imm 


Uliir  i.  1.  mm  ICtbrarg 


Nortlj  (Earolina  g»tatp  llmuprflttg 

SB  471 
E48 


THIS  BOOR  IS  DUE  ON  THE  DATE 
INDICATED  BELOW  AND  IS  SUB- 
JECT TO  AN  OVERDUE  FINE  AS 
POSTED  AT  THE  CIRCULATION 
DESK. 


A   PLEA   FOR    HARDY  PLANTS 


KALMIA    LATIFULIA 


A  PLEA  FOR   HARDY 
PLANTS, 


Mttlj   ^uggrattiius   for 
lEffrrttbr  Arrauununtt 


'By  jf WILKINSON    ELLIOTT 


New  York:    1902 
DOUBLEDAY,    PAGE    &    COMPANY 


COPTRIGHT     igo2 

Br 

IVlLKtNSON    ELLIOTT 


J,  Horace   McFarland  Compa 


'.■1P.-I\FSE    CR.IB    .HPPLE 


INTRODUCTION 

.HIS  book  has  not  been  written  to  teach  the  art  of 
hxndscape  gardening,  but  the  need  of  it.  The  stu- 
dent of  landscape  gardening  will  find  many  excel- 
lent books  on  the  subject,  but  the  public  hardly 
knows  that  there  is  such  an  art,  and  that  good  gar- 
dens and  grounds,  like  good  houses,  are  always  the 
result    of    intelligent    study    and    design. 

The  annual  expenditure  for  suburban  and  country 
homes  is  enormous,  and  while  an  architect  is  always 
employed  to  design  and  plan  the  house,  with  but  few 
exceptions  the  treatment  of    the    grounds    is    intrusted 

\to  the  nearest  two-dollar-a-day  jobbing  gardener,  or 
the  owner  is  his  own  landscape  gardener.  The  result 
is  always  unsatisfactory,  although  often  the  expendi- 
ture would  have  secured  most  beautiful  eflfects  if 
directed  by  skilled  advice.  The  folly  of  this  is  more 
apparent  when  it  is  considered  that  fully  fifty  per  cent 
of  the  cost  of  the  better  class  of  houses  is  expended  with  the  desire  of 
producing  beauty;  one  dollar  intelligently  spent  on  the  grounds  will 
afford  more  beauty  than  will  ten  spent  on  the  house,  and  the  attractive- 
ness of  the  house  is  greatly  enhanced  by  the  beauty  and  fitness  of  the 
grounds.  I  have  endeavored  to  show  this  by  good  pictures  rather  than 
with    much    writing.  j    WILKIXSON   ELLIOTT 

Pitlfhiin;.   September  lo.  /go^ 


UERARt^ 


NT,.    - 

,  A  ^^wH^^tttiA 

L9SI^^9iw3^^^^l0 

.ORO.V    JI.Bl'M    C/!.i 


A  PLEA  FOR   HARDY  PLANTS 


T  must  be  remembered  that  my  experience  has  been  with  a 
iri..  .*;  ■,  more  western  civihzation,  and  some  of  my  remarks  may  not 
!?^B  have  much  force  addressed  to  so  enHghtened  a  gardening 
community  as  that  of  Boston  and  its  suburbs.  Yet  I  am  told 
there  are  some  people  in  this  neighborhood  who  persist,  and 
at  considerable  outlay  and  trouble,  in  using  thousands  of 
tender  bedding  plants  to  make  poor  representations  of 
inanimate  objects.  If  this  is  true  they  cannot  make  the  plea 
of  not  knowing  better,  for  all  about  them  are  many  of  the 
best  and  most  tasteful  gardens  in  America  —  splendid  exam- 
ples of  garden  schemes  in  which  the  so-called  bedding  plants 
cut    little    or    no    figure. 

There  has  been  so  much  \\ritten  and  said  on  the  subject, 
and  the  great  advantages  of  gardening  with  hardy  plants  and 
shrubs  are  so  apparent,  as  compared  with  tender  bedding  plants,  that  it 
seems  a  waste  of  time  and  words  to  make  any  argument  in  favor  of  one 
and  against  the  other;  but  the  argument  is  needed  as  much  as  ever,  for 
it  is  an  undeniable  fact  that  nine-tenths  of  the  ornamental  gardening  in 
America  is  still   done  with  a  few  commonplace   and   uninteresting   bedding 


ROSA    SLIIGERA 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS  n 

plants.  Think  of  the  pity  of  it,  that  all  this  enormous  annual  expenditure 
should  be  wasted  —  an  expenditure  that  leaves  our  gardens  in  the  fall 
exactly  as  it  found  them  in  the  spring, — bare  earth,  and  nothing  in  it. 

Is  it  because  the  people  prefer  bedding  plants  to  hardy  ones?  You 
who  know  hardy  plants  know  that  this  is  not  so.  Who  would  prefer, 
let  us  say,  a  bed  of  coleuses  or  geraniums  to  a  fine  group  of  rhodo- 
dendrons, or  azaleas,  or  Lilium  auratum,  or  Japanese  anemones,  or  to 
the  hundreds  of  fine  things  to  be  had  in  hardy  shrubs  and  plants? 
Any  one  of  these  has  a  beauty  incomparably  greater  than  can  be  pro- 
duced with  the  most  lavish  use  of  bedding  plants.  Then  the  bedding 
plants  are  a  yearly  expense,  while  an  investment  in  hardy  plants  and 
shrubs  returns  the  investor  an  annual  dividend  in  increased  size  and 
loveliness.      Every  dollar    spent    for    them    secures    a    permanent    addition 


Wf^ 

#'-'^'-    V 

/ 

H^  iJy&i 

m^ 

^v^^;'    ... 

'>>    ^ 

^rsm 

iPIH 

iJ 

j^Wi"^#S 

^^^'      i*^*-'--. 

li 

/Sv 

•. 

AZALEA   NUDIFl.ORA 


12  A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 

to  the  garden,  and  the  time  soon  comes  when  the  annual  outlay  can 
be    devoted    entirely   to    care    and    culture. 

I  know  a  gentleman  who  carried  a  fine  stalk  of  LUhim  auraium 
flowers  into  the  office  of  one  of  the  largest  business  houses  in  our  city. 
Not  a  man  in  the  office  knew  what  it  was,  and  all  were  unwilling  to 
believe  that  it  grew  in  his  garden.  They  supposed  it  to  be  some  rare 
and  costly  flower  grown  in  a  conservatory.  Yet  these  lilies,  and 
dozens  of  other  things  as  fine,  can  now  be  bought  as  cheaply  as  bedding 
plants. 

The  people  do  not  prefer  bedding  plants  to  hardy  ones.  They 
have  no  choice  in  the  matter.  They  buy  what  the  local  florist  ofi^ers 
and  what  they  see  in  their  neighbors'  gardens.  They  are  not  sufficiently 
interested  to  make  inquiries.  They  do  not  read  the  gardening  papers ; 
and,  with  few  exceptions,  the  managers  of  the  city  parks,  who  should  be 
educators  of  the  people  in  gardening,  are  content  with  what  might  be 
called  an  annual  pyrotechnical  display  of  bedding  plants,  as  it  is  of  such 
short    duration    and    little    artistic  value. 

The  popularity  of  bedding  plants  is  happily  on  the  wane.  It  occurs 
to  almost  everybody  after  a  time  that  they  do  not  get  much  for  their 
money  when  they  buy  this  sort  of  material;  but  I  cannot  say  that  hardy 
plants  are  gaining  much.  There  is  no  considerable  eflFort  made  to 
attract  the  public  attention  to  their  merits;  and  when  some  man,  more 
enterprising  than  his  neighbors,  does  take  the  trouble  to  hunt  them  up 
and  do  his  gardening  with  them  the  result  is  not  always  happy.  He 
is  very  apt  to  use  them  as  he  would  bedding  plants  —  that  is,  in  formal 
beds  cut  out  of  the  grass  of  the  lawn.  Of  course,  hardy  plants  do  not 
lend  themselves  to  this  treatment,  and  it  is  one  of  their  greatest  merits 
that  they  do  not.  Better  no  flowers  at  all  than  that  the  lawn  should 
be    cut   up    in    formal    beds    for   their   accommodation. 

An  objection  often  urged  against  hardy  plants  is  their  short  dura- 
tion of  bloom,  but  this  really  is  one  of  their  greatest  merits.  Let  us 
consider  the  garden  that  depends  exclusively  upon  bedding  plants  for  its 
decoration.  It  is  usually  the  first  of  June  before  they  can  be  planted, 
and  it  is  well  into  July  before  they  are  effective ;  often  by  the  end 
of  September  they  are  killed  by  frost,  and  every  day  during  their  short 
season  of  three  months  they  are  as  unchanging  in  appearance  as  the 
carpets  in  our  houses,  and  about  as  interesting. 

On   the  contrary,  the  well-planned    and  well-planted  garden  of    hardy 


ROCK-G.mUEX   ASD    I'OOl.   .IT   If  I.I.LESLEY .  MASS. 


I 


plants  begins  its  season  with  earliest 
spring  and  terminates  it  not  with  the  first 
ight  frobts  of  fall,  but  when  No\ ember 
brings  some  real  winter  weather,  and  then 
only  goes  to  rest  to  delight  us  afresh 
with  the  coming  of  another  spring. 
Almost  every  day  throughout  its  long 
season  the  hardy  garden  is  changing 
with  the  changes  of  the  season,  some- 
thing new  is  coming  into  bloom,  and 
before  it  becomes  monotonous  its  season 
is  over  and  its  place  taken  by  some 
other  flower  equally  beautiful  and  inter- 
esting but  entirely  different.  Our  gar- 
den is  never  tiresome;  its  past  is  a 
pleasant  memory,  its  future  a  delightful 
anticipation,  and  its  bloom  an  accurate 
calendar  of  the  seasons.  Is  this  true,  or 
only  fanciful  writing?  It  is  true,  every 
word  of   it  —  hard  but  pleasant  facts. 

Snowdrops  are  in  bloom  with  the  first 
pleasant  weather  in  spring;  some  springs 
they  are  in  bloom  during  the  first  week 
in  March.  They  are  quickly  followed  by 
scillas  and    crocuses,  and    then    comes  the 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


15 


season  of  tulips  and  narcissi,  with  their  countless  varieties.  What  a 
variety  of  form  in  the  narcissi!  What  a  wealth  of  color  in  the  tulips! 
Their  season  is  fully  a  month,  and  before  it  is  done  the  early-flowering 
herbaceous  plants  are  showing  bloom  and  the  flowering  shrubs  have 
begun  a  display  that  will  end  only  with  fall.  By  May  scores  of  hardy 
shrubs  and  plants  are  in  bloom  — creeping  phloxes,  columbines,  do- 
ronicums.  Oriental  poppies,  German  and  Siberian  irises,  and  in  shrubs, 
lilacs,  early  spireas,  Japan  quinces,  magnolias,  and  Mollis  and  Ghent 
azaleas.  We  must  not  forget  the  hardy  climbers,  of  which  the  clematis, 
in  its  numerous  splendid  varieties,  covers  a  season  of  fully  six  months  and 
with  which  alone  a  most  charming  and  interesting  garden  could  be  made. 
June  brings  such  a  wealth  of  bloom  that  we  are  at  a  loss  as  to  what 
to  use  and  what  to  reject.      Rhododendrons  in  many  varieties  and  colors, 


iu.Kii.ii.i.<ji  .s   n.ij.\  1 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


kalmias,  LU'tum    candldiiw    and    elcgcun,  and    hardy    roses    are    the    flowers, 

perhaps,  that    hold   the  greatest    share    of   our  admiration  at    this  season, 

and    if    June    gave   us    hardy    roses    alone,    our    garden    should    be    satis- 

^.^   factory.     The    memory  of    a    fine    collection   of    hardy 

roses    in   full    bloom    is    worth    more    than   all   the    rib- 

fbon-  and  carpet-beds  ever   devised ;    and    in    saying 
this  it    is   with  full   knowledge  of    the  much-adver- 
tised rolls  of  carpet,  vases,  worlds  of   flowers,  etc., 
which    South     Park,    Chicago,    exhibits    to    a 
wondermg  world. 

I    fc  ir    that    much  of    the    benefit    of    the 
example    of     Mr.    Olmsted's 
and    Mr.  Codman's  work  at 
the    World's    Fair    was    lost. 
It  was  so  well    done    and    so 
naturally  done  that  a  ma- 
jority     of      the      visitors 
never    suspected     that     a 
landscape     gardener     had 
been    employed. 

After  the  glori- 
ous beauty  of  June 
we  might  be  con- 
tent to  have  our 
garden  tame  for  a 
month  or  two.  But 
there  is  no  need 
for  tameness.  At 
the  beginning  of 
July  the  magnifi- 
cent Japanese  irises 
are  in  bloom,  than 
which  there  is  noth- 
ing finer.  Wealthy 
men  build  and 
maintain  glass 
houses  at  great 
expense    to    shelter 


•^^- 


FORSYTHIA    FORTiXEI 


FUXGI.OrES   IN   A    GARDEN   AT   F.DGElf'ORTH.  PA. 

things  not  half  so  fine.  After  the  irises  come  the  Japanese  lilies,  and 
with  a  little  management  these  will  give  a  brave  show  of  bloom  through- 
out the  summer  and  fall  until  frost  comes.  To  carry  us  through  the 
summer  we  have  also  tall  phloxes,  yuccas,  rudbeckias,  gaillardias,  tiger 
lilies,  hollyhocks — single  and  double  —  campanulas,  Rosa  rugosn,  day 
lilies,  altheas,  hydrangeas,  tamarix,  hardy  sunflowers,  bocconias,  bol- 
tonias,  the  splendid  tall  delphiniums,  and  the  curious  and  beautiful 
Lialrh  pyoioUachya,  which  attracts  all  the  butterflies  in  the  neighborhood. 
These  and  many  other  lovely  things  give  a  succession  of  beauty  through- 
out the  summer  days. 

And  when  fall  comes  we  have  still  some  of  the  best  flowers  in  reserve, 
notably  the  Japanese  anemones  and  the  old-fashioned  and  really  hardy 
chrysanthemums.  The  flowers  of  both  these  good  things  will  endure 
the  early  frosts  and  early  snow-storms  and  delight  us  with  a  show  of 
bloom    on    such    sunshinv    davs    as   we    may   be   favored   with    in    late    fall. 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


It  may  be  thought  that  to  win  my  admiration  a  flower  must  be  hardy. 
Nothing  of  the  sort.  Certainly  the  basis  of  all  good  outdoor  gardening 
must  be  hardy  material ;  but  the  skilful  gardener  or  amateur  will  find  a 
place  for  many  tender  plants,  and  especially  for  the  so-called  summer- 
blooming  bulbs,  such  as  gladioli,  dahlias,  and  tuberous  begonias,  all 
of  which  are  easily  wintered  in  any  dwelling-house;  and  he  will  even  find 
a  place  for  the  new  large-flowering  cannas,  but  that  place  is  not  in 
isolated  beds  on  the  lawn.  I  have  seen  them  used  to  the  best  advantage 
in  small  groups  in  the  margin  of  shrubbery,  where  the  full  benefit  of 
their  really  fine  coloring  was  attained,  but  their  stiflfness  and  ungracefulness 
concealed.  And  the  many  fine  annuals  which  are  so  cheaply  and  easily 
raised  from  seeds  are  not  to  be  overlooked — Phlox  T>ritmmondii ,  Shirley 
poppies,  sweet  peas,  asters,  calliopsis,  are  all  fine,  and  I  am  free  to 
confess  that  there  are  but  few  things  among  hardy  plants  that  I  admire 
more  than  a  fine  mass  of  tall  nas- 
turtiums. The  garden  of  hardy 
plants  is  within  the  reach  of 
the  humblest  gardener,  yet 
It  will  satisfy  the  demand 
of  the  most  ambitious; 
and  the  finest  show 
places  of  America 
and  Europe  are  de- 
voted almost  exclu- 
sively to  hardy  ma- 
terial. If  a  great 
collection  is  desired, 
there  are  countless 
thousands  of  species 
and  varieties  to  be 
obtained  ;  or  if  it  is 
desired  to  show 
reat  cultural  skill, 
the  rare  al  pines, 
the  lovely  California 
poppy  {Romneya 
Coulteri),  the  stately 
eremurus,        the 


HARDY   ASTERS 


22  A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 

charming  rock  roses,  the  noted  edelweiss,  the  dainty  trailing  arbutus, 
and  scores  of  other  lovely  but  difficult  plants  will  try  one's  ingenuity 
and  patience  to  the  utmost.  In  gardening,  as  in  other  pursuits,  the 
greater    the    labor    the    greater    the    reward. 

I  have  almost  overlooked  the  water  garden,*  which  of  all  gardens  is 
perhaps  the  most  interesting  and  charming.  What  possibilities  here  of 
lovely  and    artistic  arrangements  with  all  the  great  variety  of    aquatic  and 


//////   II II  !>i    lnr>Rl\c^^s  i\    riir  b-k  k(  i  tn  \ d 


semi-aquatic  plants!  What  can  be  more  lovely  than  the  nymphaeas,  now 
obtainable  in  a  score  of  shades  and  colors,  or  grander  than  the  stately 
nelumbiums,  with  their  splendid  pink,  white  or  yellow  flowers?  How 
charming    the  water  garden   can    be   has  been    shown    by   Mr.   Wilson,   of 


*Since  this  lecture  was  delivered,  Miss  Jekyll'.s  chan 
been  published.  It  describes/and  illustrates  two  Very-  in 
tive  way,  and  is  altogether  a  delightful  book,  with  some 
been  published. 


ing  book,  "Wall  and  Water  Gardens,"  has 
;resting  phases  of  gardening  in  an  exhaus- 
if  the  best  gardening  pictures  that  have  ever 


24  A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 

Wisley,  England,  and  if  there  are  any  more  interesting  or  lovely  gardens 
than  this  I  have  failed  to  see  them. 

Recently  there  have  been  introduced  a  great  many  new  varieties  of 
nymphaeas,  all  interesting  to  the  collector;  but  Mr.  Robinson  says,  and 
my  experience  confirms  it,  that  the  really  desirable  hardy  garden  kinds 
can  be  included  in  a  selection  of  six  varieties, — that  is,  varieties  of  such 
vigorous  growth  and  free-flowering  qualities  that  they  make  garden  pic- 
tures. The  varieties  he  names  are  Nynip/uvii  alba  canJidhsima,  A' .  Glad- 
stoniana,  N.  Marliacea  rosea,  N.  Marliacea  cbromatclla,  N.  odorala,  and  A^ 
odorata  rosea. 

The  most  important  thing  we  have  to  consider  in  connection  with 
gardening  hardy  plants  and  shrubs  is  their  arrangement.  We  must  study 
to  produce  a  pleasing  effect  at  all  seasons  and  to  have  a  succession  of 
b^oom,  so  that  the  garden  will  never  be  dull  or  uninteresting. 

First,  let  us  take  the  smallest  garden  that  we  can  hope  to  make  a 
gardening  success  with, — that  is,  a  fifty-foot  city  or  suburban  lot.  This  is 
a  lot  usually  considered  too  small  to  do  much  with  in  a  gardening  way, 
yet  it  is  the  lot  owned  by  thousands  of  well-to-do  and  cultivated  people, 
and  well  worthy  of  consideration.  I  can  best  illustrate  a  good  arrangement 
for  such  a  lot  by  describing  a  garden  in  my  neighborhood.  The  lot  is 
fifty  feet  front  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  deep  to  an  alley.  A  path 
leads  from  the  sidewalk  to  the  steps  of  the  front  porch;  thence  around 
the  west  side  of  the  house  to  the  steps  of  the  kitchen  porch,  and  thence 
straight  out  to  the  alley.  The  house  is  thirty  feet  from  the  street  line. 
The  owner  of  the  lot  believes  with  me  that  every  garden  should  be 
inclosed,  and  has  selected  as  the  most  desirable  inclosure  a  hedge  of 
California  privet,  which  furnishes  him  a  background  of  verdure  to  set 
his  flowering  plants  against.  He  has  some  difficulty  in  establishing  a 
portion  of  the  hedge  immediately  between  his  house  and  those  of  his 
neighbors,  on  account  of  the  shade,  but  has  overcome  it  by  extra 
culture  and  deep  trenching  and  draining.  The  plan  of  his  extremely 
simple  but  effective  garden  is  as  follows :  A  border  has  been  made 
entirely  around  the  house  except  at  the  entrances,  varying  from  one  to 
three  feet  in  width.  The  front  porch  is  covered  with  Hall's  and  golden 
honeysuckles.  Clematis  Jackmam,  C.  Heiiryi,  and  C.  paniculata.  The 
borders  in  front  of  the  porch  are  planted  with  Eidalia  gracillima, 
erianthus,  Fiinkia  Sieboldiana  and  F.  siibcordata — the  funkias  in  front 
of     the     eulalia     and     erianthus.      As    all     these     plants     are     grown    for 


fHfERTT  UBJMRf 
N.  C.  Siatt  College 


form  and  foliage,  they  are  effective  throughout  the  season.  A  group  of 
tuberous  begonias  is  also  introduced  in  this  border,  and  of  course  has 
to  be  planted  every  season.  The  border  on  the  east  side  of  the  house  is 
quite  shaded,  and  consequently  is  planted  with  shade-loving  plants,  prin- 
cipally native  ferns,  with  groups  of  native  cypripediums,  trilliunis, 
lilies-of-the-valley,  tiarellas,  and  a  large  group  of  LUiiim  lancifolium  at  the 
end  of  the  border  where  there  is  the  most  light.  The  garden  back  of 
the  house  is  almost  fifty  feet  square,  but  one  side  is  perhaps  sixty  feet  on 
account  of  the  shape  of  the  house.  This  garden  is  completely  inclosed 
by  a  border,  except  where  it  is  broken  by  the  necessary  path.  This 
border  commences  west  of  the  kitchen  porch  steps,  and  follows  the  line  of 
the  house  until  it  reaches  the  division  between  the  front  and  back  gardens; 
it  then  crosses  to  the  hedge,  which  it  follows,  so  that  there  is  a  flower  bor- 
der in  front  of  all  the  hedge  back  of  the  line  of  the  house.  This  border  is 
five  feet  wide  except  on  the  west  side  of  the  lot,  where  the  entire  space. 


28  A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 

about  seven  feet,  is  taken  up,  except  a  narrow  border  of  grass  between 
the  shrubs  and  the  walk.  This  space  is  planted  with  fifty  hardy  roses, 
mostly  hybrid  perpetuals,  in  thirty  of  the  best  varieties.  In  front  of 
these  roses  is  planted  a  narrow  border,  about  ten  inches  wide,  of  various 
narcissi;  among  the  roses  gladioli  are  planted  every  spring.  The 
remainder  of  the  border  is  planted  with  herbaceous  plants  in  groups,  with 
a  selection  that  secures  a  succession  of  bloom.  This  selection  includes 
columbines,  Japanese  anemones,  irises,  lilies,  peonies,  German  irises, 
HcUanthtis  LetiJIorus,  Coreopsis  lanceolata,  gaillardias,  Rudbeckia  hirtu,  hardy 
asters,  campanulas,  phloxes,  delphiniums,  and  Heuchera  sanguinea.  In 
front  of  these  is  a  narrow  border  of  tulips,  narcissi,  millas,  etc., 
which  is  carpeted  with  Phlox  subulata.  Room  is  also  found  for  some  sweet 
peas.  Phlox  Drummoiidii,  and  nasturtiums. 

(Placing  a  border  of  hardy  plants  in  front  of  a  hedge  is  one  of  the 
most  effective  arrangements  that  can  be  made,  but  for  cultural  results 
about  the  worst,  as  the  roots  of  the  hedge  rob  the  plants  of  needed  suste- 
nance. This  difficulty  is  easily  overcome,  however,  by  placing  a  sunk  par- 
tition, say  two  feet  deep,  of  two-inch  oak  planks  between  the  hedge  and 
the  border.) 

The  kitchen  porch  of  this  house  is  covered  with  honeysuckles  and 
clematis  and  the  brick  walls  with  Jnipelopsis  rdtcbi.  At  one  corner  of 
the  house  is  planted  a  Chinese  wistaria,  which  is  trained  upon  a  single 
wire  to  the  top  of  the  house  and  then  along  the  eaves.  The  neces- 
sary, but  usually  unsightly,  posts  for  the  clothes-line  are  converted  into 
a  charming  feature  of  the  garden  in  this  way:  For  the  posts,  locust 
saplings  about  eight  inches  in  diameter,  with  the  branches  shortened  back 
to  five  or  six  feet,  have  been  used;  these  are  covered  with  Japanese 
honeysuckle,  trumpet  creeper,  and  Clematis  paiiiciilula,  one  over  each  of 
three  posts ;  and  golden  honeysuckle  and  Clematis  Jackmani  together 
on  the  other.  As  the  space  for  flowering  shrubs  is  extremely  limited, 
only  the  choicest  are  used — a  Magnolia  stellata  and  a  red-leaved  Jap- 
anese maple  in  the  front  garden,  and  a  Magnolia  Soulaiigcana,  a  Mag- 
nolia conspicua,  and  a  Japanese  snowball  in  the  back  garden.  The 
magnolias  will  in  time  become  too  large  for  the  garden,  but  it  will  not 
be  for  many  years,  and  the  owner  is  content,  for  the  sake  of  their  great 
beauty,  to  cut  them  out  and  replace  them  with  smaller  ones  when  he  must. 
In  addition  to  all  this  planting,  the  lawn  is  filled  with  crocuses, 
scillas,  and    snowdrops, — a   very    pleasing    way   of   using    them. 


JAPASESE    IRIS 


30 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


This  garden  is  the  most  effective,  beautiful,  and  interesting  in  the 
neighborhood,  yet  is  made  on  a  lot  usually  considered  too  small  to 
have  gardening  possibilities.  It  cost  more  than  most  gardens  of  this 
size,  but  it  is  complete ;  nothing  more  need  be  bought.  On  the  con- 
trary, the  overflow  of  the  natural  increase  is  brightening  the  gardens 
of  neighbors  and  friends.  This  garden  has  also  privacy,  which  I  hold 
is    as   desirable    in    a    garden    as    it    is    in    the  living-rooms  of   the    house. 

Suburban  lots  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  frontage,  and  from 
that  to  an  acre  or  two  acres  in  extent,  are  popular  sizes  in  this  country. 
Such  lots  admit  of  a  combination  border  made  with  hardy  shrubs  and 
plants  —  one  of  the  most  attractive  ways  in  which  they  can  be  used. 
Such  a  border  will  vary,  of  course,  in  size,  shape,  and  formation,  with 
the  requirements  of  individual  places,  and  must  be  designed  to  suit 
them;  but  let  us  suppose  a  lot  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  frontage 
and    two    hundred    feet    depth,  with    an    eastern   exposure.     The    house    is 


-'^j' 


CROCUSES   NATURALIZED    IN    OPEN   IP'OODS 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


placed  midway  in  the  lot  and  only  ^7C 
far  enough  away  from  the  n-orthern 
boundary  to  permit  of  a  screen  of 
planting.  It  is  common  to  place 
the  house  as  nearly  in  the  center 
of  the  lot  as  possible,  but  it  is  a 
mistake,  for  such  a  location  reduces 
the  size  of  the  lawn  and  the  gar- 
dening possibilities  greatly.  We 
would  occupy  the  entire  southern 
and  western  boundaries  of  the  lot, 
and  perhaps  a  portion  of  the  east- 
ern, with  the  border,  which  should 
vary  in  width  from  five  or  six  feet 
up  to  twenty  feet,  with  a  curved 
outline  on  the  lawn.  This  border 
should  be  planted  principally  with 
shrubs  arranged  in  groups,  but  a 
few  trees,  such  as  birches,  magnolias 
and  Judas  trees,  should  be  used, 
and  a  few  evergreens,  such  as  reti- 
nosporas,  and  quite  a  number  of 
evergreen  shrubs.  Where  a  great 
variety  of  hardy  plants  is  desired 
the  entire  margin  of  this  border 
might  be  filled  with  them,  but  a 
more  effective  arrangement  is  to 
plant  them  in  bold  groups, —  one 
variety  in  a  group, —  and  alternate 
them  with  groups  of  shrubs.  Some 
of  the  stronger-growing  plants,  such 
as  sunflowers,  foxgloves,  and  single 
hollyhocks,  might  be  placed  in  the 
middle  or  back  part  of  the  border, 
and  the  Japanese  lilies  —  auratum, 
rubrum,  and  album — and  our  Ameri- 
can species,  superbum,  can  always 
be  planted  in,  and  combined  to  ad- 


DR. I  \  I,  f  .is 


32  A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 

vantage  with  groups  of  rhododendrons  and  azaleas.  After  such  a  border 
is  completely  planted  with  shrubs  and  hardy  plants  there  will  be  many 
opportunities  for  introducing  colonies  of  spring-flowering  bulbs  —  tulips, 
narcissi,  etc. —  and  the  advantage  of  using  bulbs  in  this  way  is  that  the 
planting  is  permanent  and  that  they  are  really  more  effective  than  in 
formal-shaped  beds  cut  out  of  the  lawn.  It  is  the  intention  to  keep 
this  border  in  a  cultivated  condition,  free  from  weeds  and  grass,  and 
to  give  an  annual  mulching  of  manure.  A  lot  of  this  size,  planted  so 
densely  on  its  boundary,  should  have  its  lawn  kept  quite  free  and  open 
and  have  only  a  few  choice  specimens  planted  on  it,  and  no  large  trees, 
except    street    trees    on    the    edge    of    the    sidewalk. 

I  do  not  claim  that  this  is  the  most  artistic  arrangement  that  can  be 
made  for  a  small  suburban  place.  I  have  in  mind  a  most  artistic  place 
that  is  almost  inclosed  by  a  quite  narrow  planting  of  ordinary  trees  and 
shrubs,  with  a  mass  of  trees  back  of  the  house  and  a  single  magnificent 
specimen  tree  on  the  front  lawn.  This  is  a  satisfactory  arrangement,  as  an 
example  of  fine  architecture  is  satisfactory,  but  all  the  variety,  interest,  and 
pleasure  of  gardening  is  lost. 

In  larger  grounds,  where  a  vegetable  garden  and  perhaps  an  orchard 
are  features,  the  opportunities  for  using  hardy  shrubs  and  plants  are  much 
greater  and  more  varied.  The  vegetable  garden  may  be  made  the  most 
interesting  and  delightful  place  imaginable.  Usually  it  is  simply  a  field  of 
vegetables,  fully  exposed  from  all  points  of  the  ground  and  very  often 
unsightly.  Now,  the  vegetable  garden  should  be  concealed  from  the  lawn 
and  house;  and  this  necessity  at  once  suggests  a  border,  or  boundary 
planting,  of  shrubs  and  herbaceous  plants  as  described  for  the  smaller 
suburban  lot.  This  planting  should  not  only  hide  the  garden  but  should 
hide  its  outlines,  which  are  usually  rectangular.  The  garden  itself  should 
be  inclosed  with  a  hedge,  which  should  show  from  the  inside  of  the  garden 
but  never  from  the  lawn.  California  privet  makes  a  very  satisfactory 
garden  hedge,  but  where  that  is  not  hardy,  hemlock  spruce  can  be  used. 
Nothing  makes  a  finer  hedge  than  this,  but  it  is  slower  growing  than  the 
privet,  of  which  I  have  seen  a  perfect  hedge  five  feet  high  made  in  three 
seasons,  starting  with  two-year-old  plants.  A  convenient  walk  from  the 
house  should  pass  through  the  shrubbery  into  the  garden,  and  of  course  a 
convenient  entrance  will  be  made  for  bringing  in  manure,  etc.  A  walk 
should  be  laid  out  all  around  the  garden  five  to  six  feet  wide,  with  a  six- 
foot  border  for  flowers  between  the  walk  and   the  hedge.     There  should 


34  A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 

be  also  two  walks,  six  feet  wide,  crossing  each  other  at  right  angles  and 
dividing  the  garden  into  four  rectangular  pieces  of  about  equal  size.  On 
both  sides  of  these  walks,  grapes,  dwarf  pears,  and  small  fruits  can  be 
planted,  and  also  on  the  inner  sides  of  the  outer  walk  if  desired.  The 
walks  can  be  made  of  any  material  that  is  convenient,  and  need  not  be 
expensive.  In  one  garden  that  I  know,  they  are  made  of  grass  and  kept 
as  a  lawn  would  be.  I  know  that  there  are  objections  that  can  be  urged 
against  grass  walks,  but  the  owner  of  the  garden  in  question  does  not 
find  them  objectionable,  and  they  are  certainly  more  pleasing  to  the  eye 
than  gravel  walks.  The  border  betweep  the  walk  and  the  hedge  should 
be  given  up  entirely  to  flowers ;  hardy  plants  should  predominate,  but 
there  should  be  liberal  spaces  reserved,  for  summer-blooming  bulbs  and 
annuals.  In  the  hardy  plants  each  variety  should  be  grouped  and  as 
many  sorts  used  as  thought  desirable,  but  in  making  a  selection  flowers 
suitable  for  cutting,  as  well  as  for  making  a  garden  effect,  should  be 
preferred.  Such  bold  and  striking  plants  as  single  hollyhocks  and  fox- 
gloves should  be  planted  in  decided  masses,  and  a  border  with  eastern 
or  southern  exposure   should    be    used  for    hybrid    perpetual    roses. 

A  vegetable  garden,  arranged  as  described  and  properly  cared  for, 
in  addition  to  being  an  interesting  and  pleasant  place  to  visit,  would 
furnish  an  abundant  supply  of  cut-flowers  for  the  house,  for  the  church, 
for  the  hospital,  and  for  friends;  and  I  think  one  of  the  keenest  pleas- 
ures a  garden  can  afford  is  the  ability  to  give  away  flowers  without  stint. 
The  garden  of  hardy  flowers  enables  one  to  give  away  plants  as  well 
as    flowers,   for    the    natural    increase    soon    makes  a  surplus. 

In  large  grounds  there  are  often  opportunities  for  using  hardy 
plants  and  shrubs  in  a  freer  and  more  picturesque  way  than  any  I  have 
suggested ;  that  is,  the  planting  of  them  in  groups  and  masses  to  pro- 
duce the  same  effects  as  if  they  were  growing  wild.  Indeed,  after  the 
first  careful  planting,  they  should  be  allowed  to  grow  wild,  without  cul- 
ture and  uncontrolled.  The  naturalizing  of  hardy  material  does  not 
mean  that  we  should  attempt  to  imitate  the  thickets,  woods,  or  meadows 
on  our  lawns.  It  does  mean  the  taking  advantage  of  a  brookside  for 
groups  and  colonies  of  irises,  narcissi,  hardy  ferns,  the  splendid 
Lilium  supcrbum,  and  the  scores  of  beautiful  things  that  will  thrive  in 
the  grass  if  it  is  not  to  be  cut  with  the  lawn-mower.  It  means  the 
planting  of  an  irregular  group  of  foxgloves  on  the  edge  of  a  wood,  or 
the  covering  of    a  rough    bank  with  a  mass  of    kalmias  or  native    azaleas 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


35 


or  native  rhododendrons,  or  with  all  of  these  shrubs  together.  It  menus 
increasing  the  beauty  and  interest  of  wild  and  rough  parts  of  a  place 
a  hundred-fold,  but  considerable  taste  and  knowledge  of  materials  are 
needed   to   produce   good   results. 

We    must    not    overlook    the    claims    of    climbing    shrubs    and    plants 


lODTll    IKJII-TS 


to  our  consideration.  No  gardening  scheme,  large  or  small,  should 
ignore  them.  We  can  imagine  a  most  _  delightful  garden  where  they,  in 
connection  with  trees  and  shrubbery,  alone  are  used  ;  and,  if  we  consider 
their  decorative  efifect,  foliage,  gracefulness  of  growth,  and  the  great 
beauty  of  flowers  that  many  of  them  have,  we  must  admit  that  they  are 
entitled  to  a  more  important  place  in  our  gardens.  The  free  use  of  the 
clematis    family    alone    would    give    a    thousand-fold    more    beauty  than    is 


36  A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 

obtainable  with  the  most  lavish  use  of  bedding  plants;  and  here  we  not 
only  consider  the  large-flowered  type  but  the  smaller-flowered  sorts  as 
well,  with  their  luxuriance  of  growth  and  their  charming  efl^ect  when  used 
as  tree,  shrub,  hedge,  or  fence  drapery.  And  then  the  climbing  roses  — 
what  a  glorious  possibility  here,  with  their  showers  of    bloom  in  June! 

Climbers  will  not  exhibit  their  best  charms  if  trained  in  a  stiff  and 
formal  manner;  they  must,  in  whatever  position  used,  be  allowed  to  grow 
untrammeled.  My  neighbor's  garden  furnished  a  good  illustration  of  this. 
He  planted  common  morning-glories  all  about  his  porch,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  training  them  on  strings  later;  but  he  was  diverted  from  his  inten- 
tion and  the  morning-glories  were  allowed  to  grow  as  they  would.  The 
effect  was  most  charming ;  they  clambered  over  every  shrub  they  could 
reach,  shared  a  trellis  with  a  clematis,  and,  where  they  could  find  nothing 
to  climb  on,  formed  mounds  of  green  of  the  most  tangled  and  pleasing 
description.  Morning-glories,  common  as  they  are,  if  used  rightly,  pro- 
duce the  most  delightful  effects.  One  of  the  right  ways  is  to  sow  them 
among  tall  grass,  or  among  low  bushes  and  shrubbery;  and  as  they  renew 
themselves  annually  from  seed  they  may  properly  be  considered  hardy. 
As  a  rule,  vines  should  not  be  trained  in  a  formal  manner.  If  you  would 
have  them  exhibit  their  best  graces  they  must  be  allowed  to  grow  uncon- 
trolled. All  know  the  uses  that  vines  are  commonly  put  to — that  of  cov- 
ering the  walls  of  the  house,  furnishing  shade  for  porch  or  arbor,  and  the 
covering  of  screens  and  trellises.  Besides  these,  almost  every  place  of  any 
size  offers  opportunities  for  their  growth  in  a  freer  and  more  natural  way 
that  will  greatly  add  to  the  charm  and  delight  of  the  garden.  Perhaps  a 
neglected  shrubbery,  unsightly  in  itself,  will  afford  support  for  such  easily 
grown  things  as  honeysuckles,  Clcnicilis  rirgbilaua  and  C.  Flammula ;  or 
the  common  wild  morning-glory,  so  plentiful  in  many  places,  would  be 
quite  at  home  here.  An  unsightly  fence  might  be  partly  concealed  and 
made  a  thing  of  beauty  with  climbing  roses,  honeysuckles,  or  clematises; 
or  an  old  tree,  past  its  prime  and  beginning  to  be  unsightly,  would  be  the 
very  thing  on  which  to  grow  such  vigorous  vines  as  the  aristolochia, 
wistaria,  trumpet  vine,  and  the  common  Virginia  creeper.  In  how 
many  places  are  seen  evergreens  in  a  half-dead  condition,  which  only  pro- 
crastination has  spared  from  the  axe,  and  as  unsightly  as  could  well  be ; 
but  nothing  could  be  better  on  which  to  grow  the  large-flowered 
clematis,  which  furnishes  a  profusion  of  lovely  bloom  that  no  words  can 
describe.     Some  vines,  like  the  golden  honeysuckle,  planted   in  the  grass. 


IRIS    SmiRICJ 

will  pile  themselves  up  in  masses,  and  if  any  shrub  is  within  reach  will 
clamber  over  it,  producing  an  effect  entirely  pleasing.  There  is  nothing 
more  charming  in  nature  than  the  combination  of  shrub  or  tree  with  wild 
vines.  Who  has  not  seen  the  living  canopy  of  green  formed  by  the  wild 
grape  over  the  top  of  some  tree  or  the  stronger-growing  shrubs,  or  how 
some  wild  vine  converts  a  thicket  of  brambles  and  an  old  fence  into 
objects  of  beauty  that  the  most  ambitious  gardener  might  copy? 

It  is  not  possible  to  name  all  of  the  desirable  hardy  shrubs  and 
plants  now  obtainable;  but  I  think  it  is  well  to  give  a  list  of  what  I 
would  commend  as  the  very  best,  taking  into  consideration  their  ease  of 
culture,  as  well  as  the  beauty  of  their  bloom,  form,  and  foliage.  I  know 
many  would  disagree  with  me  as  to  the  contents  of  this  list,  but  I  am 
confident  that  the  beginner  could  make  no  mistake  in  including  any 
or  all  of  the  varieties  named  in  this  planting  list.  I  have  tried  to  name 
these  plants  and  shrubs  somewhat  in  the  order  they  hold  in  my  esteem; 
but  this  is  a  difficult  matter,  as  I  am  very  apt  to  think  the  finest  thing 
to  be  the  last  fine  thing  that  I   have  seen. 


38 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


Hybrid     perpetual     roses     in 
variety,  including 
Mrs.  John  Laing, 
Paul  Neyron, 
Ulrich  Brunner, 
Mme.  Gabriel  Luizet, 
General  Jacqueminot, 
Anne  de  Diesbach, 
Magna  Charta, 
Baroness  Rothschild, 
Captain  Christy,  and 
Clio, 

Anemone   Japonica  alha. 

Anemone  Pennsyhanica, 

Single  hollyhocks, 

Japanese  irises, 

Lilium  auralum, 

Rudbeckia  speciosa, 

Rudbeckia,  Golden  Glow, 

Aquilegias  in  variety, 

7'ucca  filamentosa, 

Paonia  /estiva   maxima. 

Herbaceous    peonies  —  single 
and  double,  in  variety, 

Lilium  speciosiim, 

Hetianlhus  orgyalis, 

Helianthus  mollis  grandiflorus, 

Helianthus  Maximiliani, 

Helianlhus  Irrliflorus, 

Foxgloves, 

Phlox,  Miss   Lingard, 

Tall      perennial      phloxes     in 
variety, 


List   of    Plants 

Delphiniums  in  variety, 

German  irises, 

Aster  Novrr-AngUa  roseiis, 

Chrysanthemums  —  old  -  fash- 
ioned hardy  sorts, 

Iheris  sempervirens, 

Lilium    siiperbum, 

Lilium   Canadense, 

Lilium  Hansoni, 

Lilium   'Brotvnii, 

Lilium  excelsum, 

Lilium  Tkunbergianum  in  va- 
riety, 

Lilium  ligrinum, 

Lilium  tigrinum  ft.  pi., 

Lilium    Krameri, 

Phlox  subulata  and  the  variety 
alba, 

Phlox  divaricata. 

Phlox  Carolina, 

Phlox  reptans, 

Pyrethrum   uliginosum, 

Scdum  spectabile, 

'Doronicum  plantagineum  excel- 

Gaillardias, 

Oriental  poppies. 

Tree  peonies, 

Eulalia  Japonica  gracillima, 

Funkia   Sieholdiana, 

Funkia   subcordata 

Funkia    cucullata, 

Funkia   carulea. 


Funkia   variegala, 
Arundo  Donax, 
Hibiscus  Moscheutos, 
Heuchera  sanguinea, 
Pyrethrum   roseum—i\x\g\e  and 

double  varieties, 
Spiraa  palmata, 
Spireea  Filipendula, 
Spiraa  Aruncus, 
Spira-a  lobata, 
Tiarella   cordifolia, 
Myosotis  palustris  semperflorens, 
Helianthus  rigidus. 
Campanula  turbinata, 
Platycodon  Mariesi, 
I'iola   cornuta, 
Cypripedium   spectabile. 
Native  ferns  in  variety, 
Thalictrum  aquilegifolium, 
Liatris  pycnostachya, 
Tritoma  Pfitzerii, 
Triloma  in  variety, 
Polyanthus, 
English  primrose, 
Asclepias  tuberosa, 
Hemerocallis  flava, 
Hemerocallis   Thunbergii, 
Hemerocallis  aurantiaca  major, 
Hemerocallis  fuha, 
Bocconia   in  variety, 
Monarda   didyma, 
Pentstemon   Torreyi, 
Lxthrum  roseum. 


Spring- Flowering    Bulbs 


Narc 
Narc 
Narc 
Narc 
Narc 
Narc 
Narc 
Narc 


ssus,  "Bicolor  Horsfieldii, 
ssus.  Poet's, 
ssus.  Emperor, 
ssus.  Van   Sion, 
ssus  alba  plena  odorala, 
ssus.   Golden   Spur, 
ssus.   Trumpet  Major, 
ssus,  'Bicolor  Empress, 


Narcissus 

Stella, 
Narcissus,  'Barri   conspicuus. 
Narcissus,  Sir  Watkin, 
Tulips,  Early-flou'ering  single 
Tulips,      Gesneriana  —  late 

flowering  single. 
Tulips,  Late-flowering, 
Tulips,   Show, 


mparahilis    alba     Tulips,  May-blooming, 
Tulips,  Parrot, 
Tulips   in  variety, 
Milla    uniflora, 
Crocuses  in  variety, 
Scilla   Sibirica, 
Scillas  in   variety. 
Single  snowdrops. 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


39 


Clematis  paiiiculala, 
Clematis  Henryi, 
Clematis  Fitalba, 
Clematis  coccinea, 
Clematis  hybrids, 
Ampelopsis  J'eitchi, 
Lonicera  Haltiana, 
Clematis  Jackmani, 
Purple  Chinese  wistaria, 
Clematis  I'irgiiiiaiia, 
Clematis  Flammiila, 


Climbers 

Trumpet  creeper, 

Golden  Japan  honeysuckle, 

Crimson   Rambler  rose, 

Rambler  Rose,  Helene, 

Rose,  W.  C.  Egan. 

'](osa    U'ichuraiana, 

•Rosa   Ifichiiraiana   rubra, 

Arislolochia  Sipho, 

'Hosa  mulliftora, 

Akebia  quinala, 

'Bignonia   radirans, 


'Bignonia  grandiflora, 
Celastrus  scandens, 
Cetastrus  paniculatus  , 
Euonymus  radicans, 
Euonymus  radicans  variegaliis, 
Polygonum  'Baldschuanicum, 
I'ilis  odorala, 
Lonicera  Herkrotti, 
Lonicera  fiichsioides, 
Actinidia  argiila. 
Berchemia   racemosa. 


Kalmia  tatifolia. 
Rhododendrons,  Catavvbiense 
hybrids. 

Rhododendron  maximum, 

Rhododendron   Calazcbiense, 

Magnolia  stellata, 

Ghent  and  Mollis  azaleas, 

Japan  maples  in  four  varieties 
— sanguineum,  aureum,  dis- 
sectum,  and  disseclum  atro- 
purpureum. 

Hydrangea  paiiiculala  grandi- 
flora. 

Hydrangea  paniculata. 

Hydrangea   radiata, 

Japan  snowball, 

Lilacs  in  variety, 

Tamarix  tetranda, 

Tamarix  Chinensis, 

Berberis  'Thunhergii, 

Forsythia  suspensa, 

Exochorda  grandiflora, 

Desmodium  penduliflorum, 

Spira-a   Lindleyana, 

Spira-a  Reevesiana, 

Spirrra  Reecesiana  fl.  pi., 

Spirea,  Anthony  Waterer, 

Spiraa  Bumalda, 


Shrubs 

Spirrra   Thunhergii, 
Spira-a  pruni/olia  ft.  pi., 
Spirefa  sorhifolia, 
Rhus  aromatica, 
Clelhra   alnifolia, 
Cercis  Japonicum, 
Sambucus  Canadensis, 
Sambucus  pubciis, 
Halesia   tetraptera, 
I'iburnum  dilalatum, 
I'iburnum  oxycoceus, 
nburnum  dentatum. 
Azalea   calendulacea. 
Azalea  arborescens. 
Azalea  nudiflora, 
Azalea  Faseyi, 
Spir/ra   Van  Houttei, 
Spira-a  arguta, 
Rosa   rugosa, 
Rosa  setigera, 
Rosa   rubrifolia, 
Rosa   Carolina, 
Rosa  arvensis, 
Altheas,    dwarf   single 
Buist's      variegated, 
double  varieties, 
Japan  quince, 
'Deutzia   crenata  fl.  pi., 
'Deulzia  gracilis. 


'Deutzia  Lemoinei, 
Hydrangea  quercifolia, 
Philadelphus  coronarius, 
Philadelphus  Avalanche, 
Philadelphus  erectus, 
fFeigela   rosea, 

Ifeigela   rosea   nana  variegata, 
VVeigela,  Eva  Rathke, 
Weigela,  Conquete, 
Weigela,  Saturne, 
Weigela,  Lavellei, 
Weigela,  Abel  Carriere, 
IVeigela   Candida, 
Forsytkia  Fortunei, 
Golden   Elc-.r, 
Andromeda  Japonica, 
Andromeda  floribunda, 
Andromeda  arborea, 
Ela-agnus  longipes, 
Snowberries,   white  and    red, 
Prunus  marilima. 
Primus  Pissardi, 
Hypericum  aureum, 
Ligustrum  Ibota, 
Upright  honeysuckles, 
Xanlhoceras  sorbifolia, 
Mahonia  aquifolium, 
Leucothol  Catesbai. 


40 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


I  have  placed  hardy  roses  at  the  head  of  the  Hst  of  plants,  although 
they  are  really  shrubs,  but  they  belong  in  the  flower  garden  and  not 
in  the  shrubbery.  None  will  dispute  their  right  to  the  place  of  honor; 
but,  notwithstanding  the  universal  admiration  that  is  expressed  for  them, 
they  are  grown  in  but  comparatively  few  gardens.  It  requires  consid- 
erable effort  to  have  them  in  perfection,  but  the  results  amply  reward 
the  labor.  I  cannot  go  into  cultural  directions;  but  I  wish  to  say,  and 
with  considerable  emphasis,  that  in  my  experience  in  growing  roses, 
which  has  been  as  an  amateur,  I  have  found  roses  on  their  own  roots 
much    more    satisfactory    than    budded    plants. 

I  know  that  Japanese  irises  and  a  dozen  other  herbaceous  plants 
have  as  strong  claims  perhaps  for 
consideration  as  the  white  Japanese 
anemone,  which  has  my  unqualified 
admiration.  It  has  so  many  good 
qualities — individual  beauty  of  flow- 
ers; great  effectiveness  in  the  gar- 
den, shrubbery,  or  border;  good 
foliage  at  all  seasons  ;  a  long  sea- 
son of  bloom,  and  flowers  that  will 
endure  a  degree  of  frost  that 
destroys  almost  everything  else. 
Its  only  limitation  is  that  it  will 
not  thrive  in  light,  sandy  soil,  but 
in  a  heavy,  rich  soil  it  grows  with 
great  vigor.  I  have  often  seen  it 
five  feet  high,  and  that,  too,  in 
places  where  it  had  been  natural- 
ized and  received  no  attention 
after  planting. 

Why  is  it  that  single  hollyhocks 
are  not  offered  for  sale  or  grown  by 
nurserymen  and  plantsmen  ?  Surely 
they  are  the  most  stately,  pictur- 
esque, and  decorative  herbaceous 
plants  in  cultivation,  and  I  have 
never  met  anybody  who  did  not 
greatly  admire  them  ;   but,  so  far  as 


I'YKl.TlliaM    ROShVM 


I  know,  they  cannot  be  bought  —  not  even  the  seed.  The  single  sorts 
are  always  very  much  finer  than  the  highly  cultivated  double  sorts,  whose 
culture  has  been  made  difficult  of  late  on  account  of  the  hollyhock  dis- 
ease. On  the  contrary,  the  single  varieties  are  of  the  easiest  culture,  and 
once   established  will    take    care   of    themselves    in    almost    any  location. 

Equally  neglected  are  the  old-fashioned  and  really  hardy  chrysanthe- 
mums, which  are  still  to  be  found  in  an  occasional  garden.  I  know 
these  chrysanthemums  would  cut  but  a  poor  figure  at  exhibitions  and 
in  florists'  windows,  but  they  have  far  more  gardening  value  than  all 
the  hundreds  of  new  varieties  introduced  in  the  last  few  years,  which  can 
only  be  grown  in  perfection  by  the  skilful  florist  or  by  the  amateur 
who    has    all    the    facilities    of   the    florist. 

The  numerous  fine  exhibitions  of  chrysanthemums  every  fall  are 
very  enjoyable,  but  I  fail  to  see  that  they  have  helped  gardening  any, 
except  that  of  a  very  limited  class.  On  the  contrary,  outdoor  gardening 
has  been  retarded  by  the  disappointment  of  thousands  of  people  who 
have    tried    to    grow    the    exhibition    pets    in    their    gardens. 


44  A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 

In  a  recent  number  of  "Garden  and  Forest,"  Mr.  Gerard  has  very 
properly  called  attention  to  the  possible  field  of  the  hybridizer  in  improv- 
ing really  hardy  chrysanthemums  for  garden  purposes;  and  in  a  later 
number  a  writer  takes  exceptions  to  his  remarks,  claiming  that  the 
flowers  are  always  damaged  by  frost  and  that  their  habit  is  straggling 
and    poor    as    compared    with    the    improved    greenhouse    varieties. 

Now,  I  think  we  have  all  seen  chrysanthemums  in  farmhouse  yards 
and  village  gardens  that  have  endured  for  years,  and  that  have,  with- 
out any  special  culture,  produced  an  annual  mass  of  very  satisfactory 
flowers  and  foliage ;  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  flowers  of  these 
sorts   will    go    through    considerable    frost    and    snow   without    tarnishing. 

These  chrysanthemums  are  certainly  useful  material  for  the  hybridizer, 
but  for  the  present  we  shall  be  very  well  satisfied  if  some  enterprising 
nurserymen  will  collect  from  old  gardens  such  varieties  as  now  exist  and 
give  us  the  opportunity  of  using  them  in  our  gardens. 

Before    I    conclude    I    wish    to    give  a   special  word    of    praise   to   my 


BED    OF   SIFEET   IVILLIAMS 


46 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


favorite  shrub,  Kiilmia  lalifol'ui,  which  is  known  in  Pennsylvania,  where  it  is 
very  common  in  the  woods,  as  the  small-leaved  mountain  laurel.  It  is 
greatly  admired  as  a  wild  flower,  and  an  occasional  unsuccessful  attempt  is 
made  to  transplant  it  from  the  woods ;  but  nurserymen  have  made  no 
attempt  to  introduce  it  into  general  culture,  and  it  is  somewhat  curious 
that  it  is  necessary  to  send  to  England  to  get  fine  specimens  of  this  dis- 
tinctively American  plant.  Excepting  odor,  it  has  every  good  quality  that 
a  shrub  can  have — evergreen  foliage  and  good  habit,  great  quantity  of 
durable  bloom,  extreme  daintiness  and  beauty  of  individual  flowers,  and 
usefulness  as  cut-flowers.  If  the  flowers  are  cut  just  as  the  buds  are  about 
to  open,  and  placed  in  water,  they  will  last  for  two  weeks  in  the  house,  and 
if  arranged  with  taste  nothing  is  more  decorative. 

In  one  of  his  books,  Donald  G.  Mitchell  suggests  that  the  kalmia 
would  probably  make  an  excellent  hedge.  I  have  never  seen  it  tried,  but  I 
am  confident  that  it  would — perhaps  as  fine  as  the  holly  hedges  in  England, 


HEMLOCK    HEDGE 


and,  witli  a  little  discretion  in  triniining,  a  hedge  of  it  could  be  made  to 
produce  a  tine  crop  of  bloon;  at  least  every  other  season. 

With  nursery-grown  plants  to  start  with,  the  kalmia  is  of  the  easiest 
culture,  requiring  no  special  soil  or  location,  and  it  is  perfectly  hardy. 
Like  all  evergreen  shrubs,  it  should  be  transplanted  in  the  spring. 

All  the  hardy  plants  I  have  named,  with  two  or  three  exceptions,  will 
thrive  with  ordinary  garden  culture,  and  some  of  them  without  any  atten- 
tion after  planting ;  but,  as  they  are  usually  planted  where  they  are  to 
remain  for  years,  it  would  be  well  to  make  the  initial  preparation  of  the 
soil  for  them  a  liberal  one.  I  usually  specify  that  borders  for  hardy  plants 
should  have  two  feet  of  good,  friable  soil,  mixed  with  one-fourth  its  bulk 


48  A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 

of  rotted  stable  manure,  and  that  they  should  be  prepared  in  late  summer 
or  fall,  the  planting  to  be  done  in  the  fall  and  the  following  spring.  Fall 
planting  is  not  recommended  for  everything;  my  experience  is  that  many 
plants  are  winter-killed  after  fall  planting  that  would  be  quite  hardy  it 
they  had  the  benefit  of  a  growing  season  to  establish  themselves.  Of 
course  special  plants  require  special  treatment ;  for  instance,  the   bulbs  of 


the  LUhtm  aiiratnm  should  not  come  in  direct  contact  with  manure,  and  the 
fine  double  and  single  varieties  of  Pyret/irum  roseum  should  be  planted  in 
beds  raised  a  few  inches,  to  prevent  their  rotting  out  in  cold,  wet  weather. 
I  would  advise  the  same  liberal  preparation  of  the  soil  for  shrubs  that 
I  do  for  hardy  plants,  though  in  many  instances  the  expense  would  be  pro- 
hibitory, or  thought  so ;  but  in  any  event  I  should  insist  on  the  ground 
being  subsoiled  or  trenched  and  a  liberal  application  of  manure  being  made. 
An  annual  mulching  of    manure  is  beneficial  to   shrubs  and  hardy  plants. 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS  49 

I  have  had  a  somewhat  extended  experience  with  rhododendrons,  and 
my  opinion  of  the  proper  soil  to  grow  them  in  may  be  worth  something. 
Their  beauty  is  now  pretty  generally  known  and  appreciated,  but  they  are 
popularly  considered  tender  and  difficult  to  grow.  This  is  largely  owing 
to  the  selling  of  improperly  grown  plants  and  tender  varieties,  and  to  late 
fall    planting,   which    is    very   apt    to    be    fatal.     I    have    found    that    when 


iioLsi:  .i\n  GROUXDS  or  j.\  jmei<i<:i\  mii.liosaire 

Catawbiense  seedlings,  or  the  well-known  hardy  named  varieties,  grown  on 
their  own  roots  from  layers,  were  planted,  there  was  no  difficulty  in  grow- 
ing them  in  any  ordinary  soil  or  in  any  position,  except  immediately  under 
old-established  trees.  I  have  seen  them  grown  with  peat  and  with  leaf- 
mold,  but  the  best  results  I  have  ever  seen  in  this  country  were  where  an 
excavation  two  and  one-half  feet  deep  had  been  made  for  them  and  filled 
in  entirely  with  turfy,  fibrous  sods,  chopped  up,  and  allowed  to  stand  over 
winter  before  planting.     No  manure  was  mixed  with  the  sods,  but  after  the 


so 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


rhododendrons    were     planted     a    mulching    of     rotted    cow    manure    was 
applied  to  the  surface  of  the  soil. 

It  seems  to  me  I  have  said  a  great  deal  about  the  merit  of  hardy 
plants  and  shrubs,  and  but  very  little  about  their  culture;  but  it  must  be 
remembered  that  my  mind  is  more  occupied  with  the  designing  of  gardens 
than  with  their  care,  and  I  think  it  is  quite  as  important  to  create  an 
interest  in  hardy  material  as  it  is  to  teach  how  to  grow  it.  Cultural  skill 
will  soon  follow  enthusiastic  desire,  which  your  society  is  doing  so  much  to 
create,  and  when  we  can  have  horticultural  societies  of  like  intelligence  and 
breadth  of  object  in  all  our  large  cities  the  advancement  of  the  best 
gardening  will   be  rapid. 

Note. — The  plans  illustrated  in  the  following  pages  are  intended  to  show  some 
correct  principles  of  arrangement  and  not  to  be  used  for  any  particular  place.  A  plan,  to 
be  worth  anything,  must  be  made  for  the  grounds  for  which  it  is  intended,  and  all  sur- 
roundings and   conditions  must  be  considered. 


SYRIAGJ    ni.l.OSA.     A    SPECIES    OF    LILAC 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


SI 


DETAILED   PLAN   EOR    FLOff'ER    GARDEN 

The  accompanying  plan  is  a  section  of  the  planting  plan  made  for  the  grounds  (five  acres 
in  extent)  of  the  late  C.  L.  Magee,  Esq.,  of  Pittsburg.  The  scheme  of  this  garden  is  suffi- 
ciently explained  by  the  specifications.  The  variety  of  plants  and  shrubs  used  insures  a  suc- 
cession of  bloom  from  early  spring  until  November.  All  the  walks  in  this  garden  are  of  green 
sward,  which  makes  it  far  more  attractive  than  if  they  had  been  made  of  gravel,  cement,  or  of 
any  of  the  materials   usually  employed. 

There  are  a  few  old  trees  in  the  garden,  and  the  planting  near  them  is  suitable  for  a  shady 
location,  and  vines  have  been  planted  to  climb  over  some  of  them  (old  cherry  trees). 

The  beds  used  for  spring-flowering  bulbs  are  also  used  for  annuals,  such  as  petunias, 
poppies,  Pklox  Drummoiidii,  pinks,  nasturtiums,  and  mignonette  in  the  summer. 

A  portion  of  the  planting  of  tali  shrubs  and  small  trees  is  designed  to  shut  out  of  view 
outbuildings  on  the  adjoining  property. 


'LAXTI.XG    SPECIFICATIONS 


Magnolia  Soiilangi-aiia. 
Spira-a  ana-folia. 
Clilhra  ainifolia. 
Rhododendrons,    with 

planted  among  them 
'Deiilzia  gracilis. 
Snowberries. 
Rhododendrons,    with 

planted  among  them, 
Ligustrum  Ibola. 
Corniis  sanguinea. 
Hydrangea  paniculata  grandiflora 
Colutea  arborescens. 
Spiraa  I'an  Houttei. 
Cercis  occidenlalis. 
I'iburnum  plicalum. 
Rhodolypus  kerrioides. 
Magnolia  Soulangeana. 
Ilea  f'irginica. 
Rosa  moschata. 
Aralia  Japonica. 
nburnum  Lantana. 
White  birch. 
Single  white  altheas. 
Penzance,  sweetbriers. 
Philadelphus  cordifoHiis. 
Eulalia  Japonica  gracillima 
Cydonia  Japonica. 


27- 

Rbus  glabra   laciniata. 

28. 

Magnolia  purpurea. 

29. 

If'eigela  fioribunda. 

Hum 

auralum 

30. 

Hydrangea  paniculata  grandiflori 

31- 

Forsylhia  Forlunei. 

32- 

Polygonum  cuspidalum. 

33- 

I'itex  Agnus-castus. 

Hum 

auralum 

34- 

Cornus  florida. 

35- 

Cralagus  O.xyacantha. 

36. 

Hydrangea  quercifolia. 

37- 

tVeigela  Candida. 

diflora. 

38. 

Clethra  ainifolia. 

39- 

Corchorus  Japonicus. 

40. 

Azalea  calendulacea,  with  Liliui 
planted  among  them. 

41. 

Lonicera  fragrantissima. 

42. 

Spirea,  Anthony  Waterer. 

43- 

nburnum  acerifolium. 

44. 

nburnum  Oxycoccus. 

45- 

nburnum  denlalum. 

46. 

Fiburnum  dilatalum. 

47- 

nburnum  Oxycoccus. 

48. 

nburnum  Nepalense. 

49- 

Fiburnum  nanum. 

50. 

Spiraa  Lindleyana. 

5>- 

Euonymus  radicans  variegatus. 

52- 

Cephalanthus  occidenlalis. 

S3- 

Hydrangea  radiala. 

uperbun 


52 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


DETAILED    PLAN    FOR    FLOIfER    GARDEN,    continued 

54-.  Rubin  odorata. 

9;.   'Dictamnus  fraxinella. 

55.   Foxgloves. 

96.   Tall  phlox. 

56.   Snovvberries,  red  and  white. 

97.   .Myosotis  palustris  semperfloreiis 

57.   Euonymus  alropurpureus. 

98.   Spira-a  palmata. 

58.   Ilea  Firgiuha. 

99.  Japanese  iris. 

59.   Corchorus  Japonica  variegala. 

100.  German  iris. 

60.  Jsler  Noz'tr-Anglla. 

loi.  Tall  phlox. 

61.   IFetgela  rosea. 

102.  Spiraa  Filipendula. 

62.   'Berberis  Thunbergii. 

103.   Sedum  spectabile. 

63.   Clematis  paniculala. 

104.    Tritoma  grandiflora. 

64.   Spirr^a  tomentosa. 

105.   Funkia   alba,   and   Clematis   paniculala 

to 

65.   Erianthus  Ravenna. 

climb  tree. 

66.  Azalea    Mollis,    with    Li  Hum    lancifolium 

106.  Tall  English  delphiniums. 

planted  among  them. 

107.   Narcissus,  single  jonquils. 

67.   Sambuciis  pubens. 

108.   Narcissus,  'Bicolor  Empress 

68.   Hypericum  Moserianum. 

109.   Narcissus,  Campernelles. 

69.   Ghent    azalea?,     with    I/Ahot     canadense. 

no.   Narcissus,  Emperor. 

Martagon,  'Bnwnii,  superbum  and  /o«|:/- 

III.   Narcissus,  Golden  Spur. 

florum  planted  among  them. 

112.   Single   early    tulips    and    Phlo.\:    T)ru 

m- 

70.   Mahonia  aquifolium. 

mondii. 

71.  Spiraa  Thunbergii. 

113.   Florists'  pinks,  assorted. 

72.   /Joja  rw^oja  a/Aa. 

114.   'Boltonia  lalisquama. 

73.   Rosa  pomifera. 

115.    (Enothera  biennis. 

74.   Euonymus  alropurpureus. 

116.   Iberis  semperznrens. 

7;.   Ceanothus  Americanus. 

117.   Single  hollyhocks. 

76.  /foja  rubrifolia. 

118.   Single  hollyhocks. 

77.   Spira-a  salicifolia. 

119.   Pentstemon  Torreyi. 

78.   -BfrAfn-j  Thunbergii. 

120.  Anemone  Japonica  alba. 

79.   Assorted  flowering  almonds. 

121.   Phlox  subulata. 

80.   ^ojfl  rw^oja  ?-K*ra. 

izz.  Anemone  Japonica  rubra, 

81.   Hybrid  perpetual  roses. 

123.   -Desmodium  penduliflorum. 

82.  Aquilegias,  single  long-spurred. 

124.   Rudbeckia,  Golden  Glow. 

83.   Hardy  pinks. 

125.  Rudbeckia  speciosa. 

84.  Japanese  iris. 

126.   Cypripedium  spectabile. 

85.   Single  early  tulips  and  annual  pinks. 

127.    J'iola  cornula. 

86.   Narcissus,  Sir  Watkin. 

128.   Lily-of-the-valley. 

87.  Narcissus,  Orange  Phoenix. 

129.   Campanula  Carpatica. 

88.  Narcissus,  Ard  Righ. 

130.  Monlbretia   crocosmaftora. 

89.   Narcissus,  "Bicolor  Horsfieldii. 

131.   Chrysanthemum  latifolium. 

90.  Narcissus  odorus, 

132.  Liatris  pycnostachya. 

91.  Sweet  peas. 

133.   Fiola  pedata. 

92.   Lobelia  cardinalis. 

134.   'Delphinium  formosum. 

93.   Platycodon  Mariesi. 

135.   Gesneriana  tulips  and  gladioli. 

94.  Tiger  lilies. 

136.   Parrot  tulips  and  calliopsis. 

54 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


DETAILED    PLAN   FOR    FLOIVER    GARDEN. 


137.   Sweet  peas. 

157- 

138.   Late  tulips  and  Shirley  poppies. 

158. 

139.   Narcissus  biflorus. 

159. 

i+o.   Narcissus,  Silver  Phcenix. 

160. 

i  +  l.   Narcissus,  Van  Sion. 

161. 

142.   Narcissus  Campernelles. 

162.  , 

143.   Single  jonquils. 

.63. 

144.    Gaillardla  graiidiflora. 

164.  . 

145.   Tall  phlox. 

165.. 

146.   Heiwpsis  Pitcheriana. 

166. 

147.   Single  peonies. 

167.  . 

148.  Heuchera  sanguinea. 

168. 

149.   Tr'itoma  grandiflora. 

.69.  . 

150.  Spiraa  Aruncus. 

170. 

151.  Aquilegias,  assorted  single. 

171. 

152.   Pulmouaria  maculata. 

153.   Hemerocallis  flava. 

172. 

154.   Tall  phlox. 

155.   Heliopsis  Pitcheriana. 

A,  A, 

156.   Heliautkus  rigidtis. 

Double  peonies. 

Heliautkus  la-liflorus. 

Heliaiithus  orgyalis. 

Futikia  Sieboldiana. 

Onoclea  sensibilis. 

Struthiopteris  Germanica. 

Coreopsis  lanceolala. 

Phlox  subulata  alba. 

Rhododendron  Everesliaiiiim. 

Japanese  maples. 

Rosa  setigera,  to  climb  old  cherry  tree. 

Lonicera  Morrozvi. 

Japan  weeping  cherry. 

Chinese  rhubarb. 

Iron   wire   arch,  with   Rosa   Wichtiariana 

trained  on  it. 
Iron  wire  arch,   with    Crimson    Rambler 

rose  trained  on  it. 
,  A,  A,  A,  A.      Large  old  trees — cherry, 

elm,  etc. 


PLAN    FOR    A    CITY    GARDEN 

This  plan,  made  for  Mr.  J.  R.  Mellon,  of  Pittsburg,  shows  a  very  elaborate  and  com- 
prehensive garden,  and  one  that  proved  very  successful.  The  garden  is  entirely  inclosed 
with  stone  walls  and  shrubbery.  The  garden-house  is  a  reproduction  of  an  Irish  thatched 
cottage,  and  the  garden  in  the  rear  of  it  is  a  miniature  vegetable  garden. 

EXPLANATION   OF    PLAN 


1,  I,  I,  I.   Deciduous  shrubs. 

2,  2,  2,  2.   Herbaceous  perennials. 

3,  Rhododendrons  and  lilies. 

4,  Ghent  and  Mollis  azaleas,  and    lilies. 

5,  5.   Single  and  double  peonies. 

6,  7,  8.   Specimen   shrubs. 

9.   Hybrid   perpetual   roses,  and  daffodils. 

10.  Specimen  plants. 

11.  Tree  peonies. 

12.  Pond  for  water  lilies  and  nelumbiums. 

13.  Rockery,  waterfall,  and  brook. 


14.  Inclosed     space     for     soil     manure     and 

rubbish. 

15,  16,  17,   18,   19,   20.   Specimen  shrubs  and 

small  trees. 
21,  22,  23,  24,  25.   Specimen  trees. 

In  addition  to  planting  shown  on  plan, 
climbing  roses  and  other  vines  are  freely 
used  to  cover  walls,  buildings,  and  arches 
over  paths,  and  thousands  of  spring-flower- 
ing bulbs  are  planted  among  the  hardy 
plants  and  in  the  margins  of   the  shrubbery. 


and     Cypripe 


alba. 


:& 


■^^^ 


PLANTING    PLAN    FOR 
FIFTY-FOOT    LOT 


.  Kalmia  latifolia  or  rhododendrons. 
,  2,  2.  Ghent  azaleas. 
,  Rhododendron  or  Japanese  maple. 
,  Yucca  filamentosa.  Spaces  be- 
tween the  yuccas  to  be  co\ered 
with  Ceraslium  lomciilosiim. 

Nasturtiums  and  Bybloera  tulips. 

Single  hoilyhocics. 

Lilies-of-the-valley. 

Spira-a  ventista. 

IVoodsia  obliisa. 

Anemone  Robinsoitiatta. 

Asplenium  Felix- fiiinina . 

Trillium  graiuliflonim. 

Adiantum     pedatum 
dium  speclabile. 

Tiarella   cordifolia. 

Anemone  Japonica 

Sweet  peas. 

Hydrangea  paniculata  grandiflora. 

Rosa  rugosa  alba. 

Tiger  lilies. 

Forsythia  Z'iridissima. 

Aralia  Japonica. 

Sedum   speclabile. 

Heuchera  sanguinea. 

Iris  Sibirica. 

Narcissus    Emperor,   followed    by 
golden  moneywort. 

Linum  flatnun. 

J'iola   cornuta. 

Phlox,  Miss  Lingard. 

Tall  delphiniums. 

Oriental  poppies. 

Foxgloves. 

Gaillardia  grandiflora. 

Japanese  iris. 

Tiger  lilies. 

Spirera  Van  H outlet , 

T>eutzia  gracilis. 

Gentiana  acaulis. 

Funkia  variegata. 

Andromeda  Japonica. 

Lilium   roseum. 

Wahlenbergia  grandiflora. 

Coreopsis  lanceolata. 

Narcissus,   Hicolor  Horsfieldii,  fol- 
lowed by  Iberis  sempervirens. 

Spira-a  astilboides. 

Platycodon  Mariesi. 

'Vicentra  spectabilis. 

Cornus  Spa-tlii. 

Lilium   elegans. 

Hybrid  perpetual  roses. 


50.  Narcissus  \'an  Sion,  followed  by  Phlox 

subutala. 

51.  Liliiim  supirbum. 

52.  Iceland  poppies. 

53.  Mixed  aquilegias. 
5+.  Herbaceous  peonies. 

55.  Plumbago  Larpenta. 

56.  'Berberis  Thunbergii. 

57.  Spira-a  'Bumalda. 

58.  Silver  maples  on  outer  edge  of  sidewalk. 

59.  Phlox  subulata  and    Gesneriana  tulips. 

60.  Mixed  tulips. 

61.  Exochorda  grandiflora. 

62.  Magnolia  Soulangeana. 


A    GOOD    PLAN 

The  accompanying  plan  made  for  Mr. 
Samuel  W.  Black,  of  Edgeworth,  Pa., 
shows  an  unusual  arrangement,  but  one 
that  has  proven  quite  satifactory  and  effec- 
tive. There  are  two  houses  on  the  grounds, 
one  occupied  by  Mr.  Black,  the  other  by 
his  sister,  and  while  each  house  has  a  sepa- 
rate lawn  the  garden  between  the  houses 
is  used  in  common.  This  garden  is  so 
screened  by  hedges  and  shrubbery  that 
eventually  it  cannot  be  seen  from  the  street. 
The  entrance  road  to  Mr.  Black's  house  is 
between  two  hemlock  hedges,  with  strip  of 
grass  on  either  side. 

E.XPLAX.ATIOX   OF   PL.A.X 

1 ,  I ,  I .   Shrubbery. 

2,  3.   Rhododendron  and  lilies. 

4.   Bank  covered  with  Rosa  Uichuralana. 

and   R.  ll'ichuraiana   hybrids. 
;,  6,   7,   8,  9,    10,    II,    12,    13.   Specimen 

trees  and  shrubs. 

14.  Groups  of  upright  honeysuckles. 

1 5.  Tulip  tree. 

16.  Magnolia  Soulangeana. 

17.  Japanese  maples. 

18.  Euonymus    radirans,   to   cover    walls   of 

house  and  terrace, 
ig.   Group  of  'Berberis  Thunbergii. 
20,  21,  22,  23,  24,   25,  26.   Specimen  trees 

and  shrubs. 

27.  .-Jralia  Japonica. 

28.  Specimen  rhododendrons. 

29.  30,  31,  32.   Specimen  trees. 

33.  Hemlock  hedge,  with  border  of  hardy 

perennials  in  front. 

34.  Spirtra  fan  Houttei. 


p       F.       w.       t       c.      R 


S8 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


PLAN    FOR    J    FIVE-ACRE    PLACE 


This  plan  is  for  a  rectangular  piece  of  ground  of  about  five  acres,  with  one  street 
frontage.  The  conventional  location  of  the  house  is  as  near  the  center  of  the  grounds  as 
it  is  possible  to  get  it,  but  the  present  plan  contemplates  placing  the  house  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  grounds,  about  eighty  feet  from  the  street.  The  advantages  of  this  loca- 
tion are  the  extremely  convenient  arrangement  of  the  grounds  it  admits  of,  and  far  greater 
extent  of  unbroken  lawn  than  if  the  house  were  placed  anywhere  near  the  center  of  the 
plat.  The  one  objection  that  might  be  urged  against  this  unusual  location  of  the  house  is 
its  nearness  to  the  street ;  but  this  is  overcome  by  the  massed  planting  on  the  south  line, 
which  makes  the  nearest  point  on  the  street  from  which  the  house  is  visible  over  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet  away. 

The  treatment  of  the  vegetable  garden  is  quite  important ;  usually,  even  in  quite  ambi- 
tious places,  it  is  left  fully  exposed  to  the  house  and  grounds.  While  a  growing  crop  of 
vegetables  is  not  unsightly,  it  can  hardly  be  claimed  that  it  is  a  desirable  landscape  feature; 
and  the  seasons  and  the  necessary  work  of  the  garden  keep  it  in  a  condition,  for  a  large 
part  of  the  year,  that  had  better  be  kept  out  of  sight.  This  design  encloses  the  garden 
with  a  hemlock  hedge,  which  I  think  is  the  most  beautiful  and  satisfactory  one  that  can  be 
grown  in  this  climate.  California  privet  makes  a  very  fine  hedge  and  can  be  grown  to  a 
height  of  five  or  six  feet  in  three  seasons,  and  \i  almost  evergreen.  Unfortunately,  this 
privet  is  not  quite  hardy  in  all  localities.  The  design  of  the  garden  provides  for  vege- 
tables, fruit  (such  as  dwarf  pears,  grapes,  and  dwarf  apples)  and  hardy  and  annual  flowers 
for  cutting  from  early  spring  until  November.  In  addition  to  the  planting  shown  on  the 
plan,  a  row  of  trees  is  to  be  planted  along  the  west  line  of  the  place,  and  the  porches  are 
to  be  covered  with  vines. 

As  I  have  said  before,  these  plans  can  only  serve  to  show  some  correct  principles  of 
arrangement  and  planting.  The  plan  for  any  given  place  must  be  specially  made  for  it, 
and  all  local  conditions  and  limitations  considered. 

EXPLAxMATIOX    OF    PLAN 

1.  I,  I.   Massed  planting  of  deciduous  trees,       ii.   Magnolia  Soulangeana. 

evergreens  and   shrubs,  with  groups  of       12.  Colorado      blue      spruce      and     weeping 

strong -growing    herbaceous    plants  in                   hemlock. 

the  margins.  13.  Nordmann's     fir,     oriental     spruce,     and 

2.  Group  of  trees.  Abies  pendiila. 

3.  Border  for  single  hollyhocks.  14.  Tulip  tree. 

4.  Border  of  hybrid  perpetual  roses.  15.  Pin  oak. 

5.  8.   Border    of    hardy    plants,    lilies,    and      16.  Specimen  rhododendrons. 

spring-flowering  bulbs.  17.  Weeping  beech. 

6.  Border  of  summer-flowering  bulbs.  18.   Rose -flowered   Japanese   weeping   cherry 

7.  Border  of  annuals.  (high  grafted). 

9.   Japanese  maples.  19.  Ahies  roncolor  and  Picea   exceha. 

10.  Magnolia   stellata   and  golden  yew.  20.  Magnolia   conspicua. 


-♦"---i^ 


PUN    FOR    A    FIFE-ACRE    PLACE 


6o 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


PLAN    FOR    A    FIIE-ACRE    PLACE,    continued 


21.  Fruit    along     inside     paths    of    vegetable 

garden  —  grapes,  dwarf  pears,  dwarf 
apples,  etc. 

22.  Saplings    eight    inches    in    diameter    with 

branches  cut  back  to  five  or  six  feet. 
These  posts  can  be  covered  with  wis- 
taria and  similar  vines. 

23.  Summer  house  or  pavilion. 


24.  Shrubbery. 

25.  Chinese  cypress. 

26.  Rhododendrons. 

27.  Purple  beech. 

Vegetable  garden  to  be  inclosed  with  a 
hemlock  hedge,  which  is  also  to  be  planted 
along  the  west  side  leading  from  the  street 
to  house  and  stable. 


A    SUBURBAN    LOT 

The  accompanying  plan,  made  for  Mr.  J.  E.  Porter,  of  Sewickley,  Pa.,  shows  an  uncon- 
ventional treatment  of  a  corner  lot  that  few  people  would  have  the  courage  to  carry  out. 
Yet  it  has  many  attractions  and  advantages  for  the  owners  and  their  friends.  The  objection 
is  likely  to  be  urged  that  the  public  cannot  see  the  garden  from  the  street;  but  neither  is 
the  interior  of  the  house  to  be  seen  from  the  highway,  and  privacy  in  the  garden  is  certainly 
as  desirable  as  it  is  in  the  library  or  dining-room,  and  all  the  public  that  the  owner  is 
interested  in  will  be  invited  to  enjoy  his  garden  as  well  as  the  hospitality  of  his  house. 
The  plea  that  it  is  selfish  to  exclude  the  public  from  one's  grounds  is  not  reasonable.  I 
never  knew  of  anybody  being  kept  out  of  a  garden  who  cared  enough  about  it  to  ask  to 
see  it,  and  the  charm  and  beauty  of  a  garden  is  greatly  enhanced  by  shutting  out  of 
view    the    dirt    and    ugliness    of    the    street. 


EXPLANATION    OF    PLAN 


1.  Masses  of  shrubs,  evergreen  and  decidu- 

ous small   trees,  with  a   few   groups  of 
bold  herbaceous   plants. 

2.  Crab  apple. 

3.  Hardy  perennials. 

4.  Magnolia   conspicua. 

5.  Japanese  maples. 

6.  Rhododendrons,    with     Litium    auralum 

planted  among  them. 

7.  Japanese  snowball. 

8.  Paulownia    imperialis,   to    be    cut   to    the 

ground  every  spring. 

9.  Pin  oak. 

10.  Pyrus  Toringo. 

11.  Rhododendron  Everestianum. 

12.  Lonicera  betla. 

13.  Group  of  Aralia  Japonica. 

14.  Old  spreading  Seckle  pear. 

15.  16.  Tulip  tree. 


17.  White  birch. 

18.  Low-spreading  old  Apple  tree. 

19.  White  birch. 

20.  Scarlet  oak. 

21.  22,  23,  24.   Cedar  or  locust  saplings,  to  be 

covered  with  vines,  for  clothes-line  posts. 

25.  Arched  entrance,  to  be  covered  with  Rosa 

U'ichuraiana. 

26.  Border  of  hybrid  perpetual  roses. 

27.  Scarlet  maple. 

28.  California  privet  hedge. 

29.  Pin    oaks,    planted    forty    feet    apart    be- 

tween curb  and  sidewalk. 
In  addition  to  planting  shown  on  plan,  the 
following  vines  are  to  be  planted  to  shade 
porch:  Hall's  honeysuckles,  Crimson  Ram- 
bler roses,  Chinese  wistaria  and  Clematis 
paniculata.  Ampelopsis  Roy/ei  is  to  be  planted 
to  cover  brick  walls  of  house. 


*=» 


I'l.ix  roK  .1  si■lli■|<B.^x  /.or 


62  A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 

AN    IDEAL    SUBURBAN   ACRE 

The  unusual  location  of  the  house  in  the  accompanying  plan  probably  makes  it  imprac- 
ticable for  a  majority  of  suburban  acres,  but  it  serves  to  show  some  correct  principles  of 
arrangement  and  planting,  and  that  is  about  all  any  plan  can  show,  except  for  the  special 
grounds  for  which  it  is  designed  ;  for  good  plans  cannot  be  had  ready-made  but  must  be 
made  to  order,  and  all  local  conditions  and  limitations  considered.  The  many  desirable 
features  of  the  plan  I  think  are  evident.  By  locating  the  house  close  to  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  lot,  a  southeast  corner  one,  the  greatest  possible  unbroken  expanse  of  lawn 
is  obtained,  and  all  principal  rooms  of  the  house  have  a  southern  and  eastern  exposure. 
The  massed  planting  on  the  western  and  northern  boundaries  gives  protection  to  house 
and  grounds  from  wintry  winds,  affords  grateful  shelter  for  the  choicer  shrubs  and  plants, 
and  secures  privacy  for  the  rear  of  the  house,  drying  ground  and  stable.  The  driveway — 
and  driveways  are  now  usually  made  so  as  to  serve  the  double  purpose  of  driving  and 
walking — gives  entrance  from  one  street  and  the  curved  path  from  the  other.  This  path, 
winding  in  among  the  shrubbery,  affords  opportunity  for  some  very  effective  planting.  Massed 
planting  of  shrubs,  while  the  very  best  arrangement  for  them,  gives  many  chances  for  the 
planting  of  groups  of  herbaceous  plants,  narcissi,  and  lilies  in  the  margins,  and  no  better 
setting  can  be  had  for  the  splendid  new  flowering  cannas.  The  grounds  are  to  be  inclosed 
with  a  fence,  low  wall,  or  hedge, — preferably  a  hedge  if  properly  planted  and  cared  for, — and 
for  grounds  of  this  size  no  more  satisfactory  hedge  can  be  planted  than  California  privet 
(Ligustrum  oz'alifolium) .  It  is  quick-growing  and  has  a  rich,  lustrous  green  foliage,  and  it 
is  almost  evergreen.  The  plan  ignores  bedding  plants,  with  the  exception  of  the  beds  of 
cannas  and  carpet-border  in  front  of  the  porte-cochere,  a  very  appropriate  place  for  a  bit  of 
formal  gardening;  but  where  the  annual  expense  of  bedding  is  objectionable,  the  cannas 
could  be  changed  for  tall  hardy  grasses  and  the  carpet-border  for  one  of  tulips  carpeted 
with  Phlox  siibiilata,  or  it  might  be  omitted  altogether.  Nine-tenths  of  the  bedding  done 
detracts  from,  rather  than  adds  to,  the  grounds  it  is  intended  to  beautify,  and  is  an  annual 
waste  of  money,  which,  if  spent  intelligently  in  carrying  out  a  good  design,  would  in  time 
make    a    sylvan    paradise    of    many   a    suburban    home. 

EXPLANATION   OF   PLAN 
1,1,1.   Shrubs,  with  hardy  plants  and  spring-        8.   Purple  beech. 

flowering   bulbs   planted   in  margin.  g.    Evergreens  and   birches. 

2,2.    Rhododendrons,    kalmias,    small    ever-      lo,  lo,  lo,  lo.    Scarlet   maples;    can   be  used 

greens  and  lilies.  for  clothes-line  when  large  enough. 

3.  Border  for  herbaceous   plants  and  spring-       11.   Hemlock   spruce. 

flowering  bulbs,  or  could  be  used  for  12.  Weeping  dogwood, 

hybrid   perpetual   roses.  13.  Wier's  maple. 

4.  Lhurimmed  hedge  of  hemlock   spruce.  14.  Pin  oak. 

5.  LJntrimmed  hedge  of  lilacs.  15.  Tulip  tree. 

6.  6,  6,  6.     Posts    covered    with    vines     for      16.   Magnolias. 

clothes-line.  17.   Chinese  cypress. 

7.  Bed  of  new  flowering  cannas  and  carpet-       18.   Rose-flowered  Japanese  weeping  cherry. 

border  of  alternantheras,  echeverias,  etc.       19.   Magnolia   stellala. 


«*^.. 

STABLE 

r 

^^?'*!r^ 

.^\    IDEAL    SVBIRB.IS    ACRE 


64 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


AN 

20.  Cut-leaved  birch. 

21.  Fern-leaved  beech. 

22.  Japan  maples. 

23.  Fuiikia  Sieboldiana. 

24.  Eulalia  gracillima. 

25.  Jf'eigela    Candida. 

26.  Evergreens,  small  trees  and  shrub 


IDEAL    SUBURBAN    ACRE,    continued 

27.   Maples,  pin  oaks  or  tulip  trees. 

In  addition  to  planting  shown  on  plan, 
Japanese  honeysuckles,  Clematis  panictilala, 
and  Clematis  Henryi  are  to  be  trained  on  the 
porch,  and  a  Chinese  wistaria  is  to  be  car- 
ried up  the  east  end  of  the  house,  trained 
along  the  eaves. 


TJrO    SMJLL    PLACES    TREATED    AS    ONE 

It  is  now  quite  common  in  suburban  neigkborhoods  to  do  away  with  all  fences  and 
make  one  continuous  lawn  in  front  of  the  houses  of  an  entire  block.  I  am  opposed  to  this, 
except  for  small  lots  of  less  than  one  hundred  feet  frontage.  The  inclosure  need  not  be  a 
fence  or  a  wall  ;  much  better  effect  can  be  obtained  by  a  hedge.  The  continuous  lawn  plan 
does  not  permit  grounds  to  have  individual  character  or  privacy,  and  I  think  privacy  is  as 
desirable  on  a  lawn  as  it  is  in  the  living-rooms  of  the  house.  Sometimes,  however,  the 
grounds  of  two  or  three  small  places  may  be  combined  and  treated  as  one  place,  and  fine 
landscape  effects  obtained  which  would  not  be  possible  with  the  separate  places.  The 
accompanying  plan,  made  for  Mr.  W.  J.  Buttfield,  of  Plainfield,  N.  J.,  illustrates  this  very  well. 


EXPLANATION 


1.  Edge  of  woods  back  of  grounds. 

2.  33.   Rows  of  old  Norway  spruce,  twenty 

feet  high,  which  were  allowed  to  re- 
main, as  they  protected  the  grounds 
on  the  north  and  west,  but  the  regu- 
larity of  their  outline  was  broken  by 
additional  planting. 

3.  Purple  beech. 

4.  Border  of   hybrid  perpetual   roses,  herba- 

ceous plants  and  spring-flowering  bulbs. 

5.  Group   of  Japanese  maples,    retinisporas, 

and  specimen  shrubs,  ground  carpeted 
with  Hall's  and  golden  honeysuckles. 

6.  Magnolia   conspiciia. 

7.  Sciadopitys  verticillala. 

8.  Magnolia  parviflora. 

9.  Shrubs. 

0.  Abies  concolor. 

1.  Nordmann's  fir. 

2.  Colorado  blue  spruce. 

3.  European  beech. 

4.  Massed     planting    of     shrubs,     evergreen 

and  deciduous. 


OF    PLAN 
.   Cut-leaved  birch. 
.   Paulozcnia   imperialis. 
.  Abies  concolor. 
.   Mugho  pine. 
.   Nordmann's  fir. 

.   Massed  planting  of  deciduous   and  ever- 
green shrubbery. 
.   Fern-leaved  beech. 
.   Magnolia   Lennei. 
.  Japanese  snowball. 
.   Specimen  rhododendron. 
.   Picea  alba   citrulea. 
.  White-leaved  weeping  linden. 
.  Magnolia  stellata. 
.   Cedrus  Atlantica  glauca. 
.  Weeping  hemlock. 
.   Specimen  rhododendron. 
.  Magnolia  Soulangeana. 
.  Group  of  white  birch. 
.   Philadelphus  and   Jf'eigela   Candida. 
.   Pin   oak. 
.   Tulip  tree. 


4^  !^  'V  -^V  ■#    'Jr  -^..^ii-  ^.  a,  r* 


66  A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 

PLAN  FOR    A    LARGE    CITY    PLACE 

The  accompanying  plan,  designed  by  Mr.  Caparn,  I  think  an  especially  good  one — very 
original  and  artistic — and,  properly  carried  out,  would  make  a  very  charming  garden.  It  is 
designed  for  a  city  home,  rather  than  a  country  one,  where  it  is  desirable  to  secure  privacy 
from  numerous  pedestrians  and  to  conceal  from  view  surrounding  streets  and  buildings. 
Some  would  object  to  the  arrangement  shown  on  account  of  its  exclusiveness,  but  after 
the  making  of  many  gardens  I  am  still  of  the  opinion  that  privacy  is  one  of  their  best  quali- 
ties.    Mr.  Caparn  explains  his  plan  as  follows : 

"This  plan  is  for  a  place  of  average  shape  and  about  two  and  a  half  acres  in  area. 
The  unusual  location  of  house  and  lines  of  walk  will  show  that  economy  of  space  is  quite 
consistent  with  convenience  and  breadth  of  effect.  Picturesqueness  is  obtained  by  arrange- 
ment of  planting,  not  by  meandering  of  sinuous  ribbons  of  gravel.  By  placing  the  house  in 
the  corner  the  greatest  possible  extent  of  unbroken  lawn  space  is  secured,  while  the  porch 
fronting  the  lawn  is  as  private  as  it  could  be  on  a  place  of  this  size.  The  lawn  runs  up 
to  the  house  unimpaired  by  any  stripes  of  arid  pavement,  and  the  lines  of  the  house  are 
relieved  only  by  the  creepers  covering  it  (Boston  ivy  on  the  walls  and  clematises,  wistarias 
and  Hall's  Honeysuckles  on  the  porches)  and  the  tall  conifers  to  the  south  of  the  house. 

"This  kind  of  design  is  suited  only  to  land  level,  or  approximately  so,  but  within 
those  lines  could  be  easily  adapted  to  many  places.  An  ideal  contour  map  would  show  the 
lawn  gently  sloping  from  all  sides  to  the  middle,  with  the  walks  on  level  ground.  Along 
the  front  boundary  runs  a  wall  or  iron  fence  ;  the  entrance  is  through  iron  gates  into  a  court 
large  enough  to  admit  of  a  carriage  being  turned.  There  is  a  smaller  gate,  admitting  pedes- 
trians to  a  paved  walk  leading  to  the  front  and  back  of  the  house.  The  carpet-bedding  on 
each  side  of  the  entrance  court  is  justified  by  the  formal  lines  of  building  and  macadam 
which  it  supplements.  The  shrubbery  behind  it  sets  it  off  and  separates  it  from  the  main 
part  of  the  grounds.  The  drying  ground  is  inclosed  on  three  sides  by  a  hedge  or  vine- 
covered  trellis.  The  stable  is  placed  at  the  corner  of  the  vegetable  garden  and  entered 
from  a  side  street,  thus  being  kept  entirely  away  from  the  house  ;  but  if  the  place  were  not 
on  a  corner  the  stable  could  be  placed  opposite  the  drying  ground  and  the  paved  walk 
widened  to  allow  the  passage  of  vehicles. 

"The  interest  and  value  of  the  vegetable  garden  could  be  added  to  by  borders  of 
annuals,  herbaceous  and  tender  plants  for  cut-flowers,  grape-vines,  and  dwarf  fruits.  It  is 
inclosed  by  a  wall.  A  hedge  would  be  a  good  protection,  would  look  better  and  be  far 
cheaper,  but  would  take  several  years  to  become  an  effective  defense.  If  the  walks  are 
made  wide  enough  to  admit  of  a  horse  and  cart  being  used  in  the  garden,  six  and  one-half 
feet  will  be  wide  enough  for  them,  and  the  inner  corners  should  be  rounded  a  little  to 
allow  for  turning;  in  this  way  manure  may  be  carried  to  all  parts  of  the  garden  with  great 
convenience.  If  desired,  breaks  could  be  left  in  the  shrubbery  to  admit  views  from  the 
street  without  injury  to  the  general  design." 

EXPLANATION    OF    PLAN 

1.  Japan  maples.  +.  Magnolia  partnflora. 

2.  Relinispora  obtusa.  5,  5.   Shrubbery,  with  small  trees  and   groups 

3.  Yulan  magnolia.  of  large  herbaceous  plants  in  margins. 


PLAS    FOR    A    LARGE    CITY    PLACE 


68 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


PLAN    FOR    LARGE    CITY    PLACE, 


6.  Oriental  spruce. 

7.  Rollison's    arborvitss,    or    golden     retinis- 

poras. 

8.  Nordmann's  fir. 

9.  Scarlet  maple. 

10.  Andromeda   arborea. 


11.  Balsam  fir. 

12.  Norway   spruce. 

13.  Colorado   blue  spruce. 

14.  Purple  beech. 

15.  Irish  juniper  and  beds  of  herbaceous  plants. 

16.  Vine-covered   summer  house. 


PLAN    FOR    GROUNDS    OF    TIFENTY  ACRES 

The  accompanying  plan  is  that  of  the  grounds  of  Mr.  Henry  S.  Turner,  at  Elash,  111. 
These  grounds  are  beautifully  situated  on  a  bluff  five  hundred  feet  above  the  Mississippi 
river,  and  about  thirty  miles  from  St.  Louis.  The  grounds  are  comparatively  level  except 
for  a  steep  declivity  on  the  southern  boundary,  commencing  on  a  line  a  few  feet  south  of 
the  house,  and  a  valley  commencing  at  path  a,  and  extending  beyond  the  northwestern 
boundary  of  the  grounds.  This  valley  is  wooded  north  of  the  carriage  drive  which  crosses  it 
from  b  to  c.  The  grounds  slope  gently  to  this  valley  from  path  d,  and  from  the  road 
from  (■  to  /._ 

The  steep  declivity  referred  to  above  extends  about  three  hundred  feet  south  of  the 
house  to  a  sheer  bluff  above  the  river.  The  house  is  located  to  get  the  full  benefit  of  the 
magnificent  river  and  prairie  view,  which  is  only  limited  by  the  power  of  the  eye.  The 
pond  was  a  natural  one,  the  outlines  of  which  have  been  changed.  This  pond  was  retained 
to  provide  a  place  to  grow  aquatics  and   bog  plants. 

The  grounds  are  very  elaborately  planted  with  a  large  variety  of  trees,  shrubs  and  her- 
baceous plants,  and  promise  to  become  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  beautiful  country 
places  in  the  west.  In  addition  to  the  ground  shown  by  the  plan,  Mr.  Turner  owns 
several    hundred    acres    adjoining,   which    is    devoted    to    a    stock-farm. 


EXPLANATION 
I,  I.    Woods.  \' 

Steep    declivity,  planted   principally  with 

evergreens,  but  some  open  spaces  left, 

in  which  wild    roses  and    other    native 

plants  are  naturalized. 
3.  3>  3.  3.  3'  3-    Trees  and   shrubs. 
I,  3a.      Shrubs. 
Trees,  principally  deciduous,  but  with 

few  groups  of  evergreens. 
5.      Rhododendrons  and    coniferous    ever 

greens. 
Large  evergreens. 
Hemlock  spruce. 

White  birch  and   hemlock   spruce. 
Bed   of  Anaido    'Donax  and    Eiilalia   gra 

cillima. 


OF    PLAN 

0.  Path  from  house  to  farm,  with  flower 
border  on  both  sides,  planted  with 
hybrid  perpetual  roses,  herbaceous 
plants,  spring-flowering  bulbs,  sum- 
mer-blooming bulbs,  and  annuals. 

1.  Summer  house. 

2.  Pump-house. 

3.  Ice-house. 
+.   Office. 

5.  Greenhouse. 

6.  Lodge. 

7.  Pond  for  aquatics,  with  groups  of  shrubs 
and  trees  planted  around  it. 

8.  California  privet  hedge. 

9.  Lombardy  poplars, 
o.   Grape-arbor. 


i»4 


1     '^'^::Hi^i^,'^m^m^'' 


/'/../.V    fa«    GKOIMJS    Of    TIIEXTY    ACRES 


70 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


PLAN    FOR    GROUNDS    OF   SIX   ACRES 

The  accompanying  plan  was  made  for  the  grounds  of  John  Markle,  Esq.,  Jeddo,  Pa. 
As  these  grounds  were  surrounded  by  the  various  buildings  of  a  large  colliery,  the  first 
consideration  was  to  make  the  grounds  as  private  as  possible  and  shut  out  the  unsightly 
objects  that  were  in  view  in  every  direction ;  although  I  hold  that  privacy  is  always  as 
desirable  on  the  lawn  and  in  the  garden  as  it  is  in  the  living-rooms  of  the  house,  and 
secure  for  the  family  and  its  friends  much  freer  and  greater  enjoyment  than  when  the 
grounds  are  fully  exposed  to  the  highway.  In  the  present  instance  privacy  was  secured  by 
massed  planting  of    shrubs  and    by  a  hemlock  hedge  completely  surrounding  the  grounds. 

The  landscape  gardener  often  finds  that  his  lawns  are  spoiled,  in  spite  of  his  advice, 
by  being  cut  up  for  flower  beds  by  some  ambitious  gardener  anxious  to  show  his  skill  in 
making  colored  lines  of  coleus,  alternantheras,  and  other  tender  plants.  Such  a  contin- 
gency is  provided  for  in  this  plan  by  making  an  inclosed  formal  garden  for  bedding  plants 
in  summer  and  Dutch  bulbs  in  spring,  and  this  garden  in  no  way  spoils  the  repose  of  the 
lawns.  It  is  inclosed  by  a  hedge  of  Siberian  arborvitae  and  massed  planting  of  shrub- 
bery,  and  must  be  visited  to  be  seen. 


EXPLANATION   OF   PLAN 


I,  I,  I,  I,  I.  Massed  planting  of  decidu- 
ous and  evergreen  shrubs. 

Specimen   shrubs. 

English  beech. 

White-leaved   linden. 

Nordmann's  fir. 

Cut-Leaved  Japan  maple. 

Group  of  Jralia    Japoiiica. 

Scarlet  maple. 

Etilalia  gradllima   and  yuccas. 

Group  of  small  deciduous  trees. 

Nordmann's  fir  and  Colorado  blue 
spruce. 

Specimen  shrubs,  evergreens,  and  Chinese 
magnolias. 

Deciduous  trees  and  evergreens. 

Group  of  Chinese  and  Japanese  mag- 
nolias. 

Scarlet  oak. 

Scarlet  oak,  weeping  cypress,  and  weep- 
ing Norway  spruce. 

Sugar  maple. 

Tulip  tree. 

Fern-leaved  beech. 

zo.   Pin  oaks. 

Evergreens  and   white  birch. 


22.  Evergreens,   rhododendrons,   and    Kalmia 

lalifolia. 

23.  Formal    garden    for   bedding    plants    and 

spring-flowering  bulbs. 
z\.  American    beech,   liquidambar,   and   tulip 
tree. 

25.  Scarlet  maple. 

26.  Group  of  Japanese  crab  apples. 

27.  Wier's    maple,    pin    oak,    English    beech, 

black  walnut,   and   white  oak. 

28.  Tulip    tree,     Magnolia     macrophylla     and 

scarlet  maple. 

29.  Group  of  deciduous  trees. 

30.  Mass  of  wild  crab  apples. 

31.  American  elm. 

32.  White,  scarlet,  and  pin  oaks. 

33.  Summer  house. 

3+.   Rockery   on   both   sides   of    path   leading 
into  woods. 

35.  Group  of  evergreens. 

36.  Lombardy  poplars. 

37.  Border  of  annuals. 

38.  39.   Border  for  hardy  perennials. 

40.  Border  of  hybrid  perpetual  roses. 

41 .  Bed  oi  A  run  do  DonaxanA  Eiilalia  gracillima. 

42.  Lilacs,  assorted. 


72 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


PLAN    FOR    GLEN    COVE    RAILROAD    STATION 

Some  of  the  railroads,  notably  the  Pennsylvania  and  one  or  two  of  the  New  England 
companies,  have  been  devoting  considerable  attention,  of  late  years,  to  gardening  along  their 
lines.  Station-grounds  have  been  beautified,  and  the  steep  banks  made  by  grading  cuts 
have  been  planted  with  vines  and  shrubs.  This  work  is  not  costly,  and  is  a  distinct  gain 
to  the  companies  by  making  their  roads  more  attractive  to  travelers  and  the  seekers  of 
suburban  homes,  and  in  the  case  of  steep  banks  saves  them  from  loss  and  trouble  by  pre- 
venting the  slipping  of  loose  surface  soil,  which  is  very  apt  to  happen  after  heavy  rains,  or 
when  the  frost  comes  out  of  the  ground  in  the  spring  on  unplanted  banks. 

The  present  plan  was  made  for  the  station-grounds  at  Glen  Cove,  Long  Island,  near 
which  station  are  the  country  homes  of  many  wealthy  New  York  people.  These  grounds 
are  much  larger  than  those  usually  surrounding  suburban  stations  ;  but  I  believe  the  resi- 
dents joined  the  railroad  company  in  buying  and  improving  the  grounds,  and  the  result  is 
a  very  attractive  little  park  that  is  a  pleasure  and  credit  to  all  concerned., 

The  grounds  have  been  laid  out  and  planted  as  attractively  as  possible,  but  the  prac- 
tical purposes  of  the  station  have  not  been  overlooked,  and  ample  space'iias  been  left  for 
standing  room  for  carriages  at  the  platforms. 

The  planting  list  includes  many  beautiful  trees,  shrubs  and  herbaceous  plants,  but  all 
of  easy  culture, — things  requiring  care,  of  course,  but  not  the  care  of  an  expert.  It  may  be 
interesting  to  know  that  the  famous  "  Dosoris  "  is  near  this  station,  and  to  this  Glen  Co\e 
owes  much  of  its  progressi\e  spirit.  ^ 


EXPLANATION    OF    PLAN 


1.  Magnolia   macrophylla. 

2.  Scarlet  oak. 

3.  Magnolia   conspicua. 

4.  Nordmann's  fir. 

5.  Sugar  maple. 

6.  Abies  concolor. 

7.  Wier's  maple. 

8.  Silver  maple. 

9.  Picea  polila. 

10.  White-leaved  weeping  linden. 

11.  Colorado  blue  spruce. 

12.  Groups  of  white  birch. 

13.  Cut-leaved  birch. 

14.  Magnolia   conspicua. 

15.  Magnolia  parz'iflora. 

16.  Magnolia  Soiilangeana. 

17.  Tulip  tree. 

18.  Oriental  spruce. 

19.  Douglas'  spruce. 

20.  Abies  Cephalonica. 

21.  American  elm. 


22.  Oriental  sycamore. 

23.  Weeping  rose-flowered  Japan  cherry. 

24.  American  elm. 

25.  Salix  pentandra. 

26.  Group  of  hemlock   spruce. 

27.  White-leaved  linden. 

28.  Malus  Halliana. 

29.  29.   Massed  planting  of  trees  and  shrubs. 

30.  Pin   oaks    planted    fifty    feet    apart,   with 

Carolina  poplars  planted  alternately. 
The  poplars,  which  are  of  exUremely 
rapid  growth,  are  to  be  cut  out  as  soon 
as  the  pin  oaks  are  of  an  effective  size. 

31.  White    ash    planted    fifty    feet    apart    and 

Carolina  poplars  planted  alternately, 
to  be  treated  as  noted  above. 
In  addition  to  the  above  a  California 
privet  hedge  is  planted  along  both  sides  of 
the  main  entrance  driveway  and  along  one 
side  of  the  driveway  paralleling  the  railroad 
track. 


m^i,: 


it: 


^^v; 

^^' 


/'/../A     /a«     GLE.\     CO  IE    RAILROAD    STATW.X 


PLAN    FOR    SUBURBAN    LOT    75x160    FEET 

It  is  usually  thought  the  small  suburban  lot  is  unworthy  of  the  landscape  gardener's 
skill;  but  I  think  the  accompanying  plan,  which  is  for  a  lot  75  x  160  feet,  or  about  one- 
fourth  of  an  acre  of  ground,  proves  the  contrary.  This  plan  gives  what  is  not  always 
found  in  larger  places — small  but  good  lawn  effects,  a  considerable  variety  of  choice  plants 
and  shrubs,  changing  effects  from  spring  until  fall,  and  outdoor  privacy  for  the  family  and 
its  friends. 

The  present  plan  ignores  bedding  plants,  with  the  exception  of  the  French  cannas 
against  the  front  porch,  and  I  am  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  Eidalia  graciUima  (that  lovely 
tall  Japanese  plumed  grass,)  with  a  border  of  Siebold's  funkia,  would  be  better  and  would 
make  the  entire  planting  of  a  permanent  character.  The  new  French  cannas,  such  as  Mme. 
Crozy  and  Alphonse  Bouvier,  are,  however,  despite  their  one  fault  of  fading  in  hot  sun- 
shine, fine  enough  for  any  grounds,  and  their  splendid  coloring  in  September  and  October 
reconciles  us  to  their  summer  weakness.  A  disagreeable  feature  of  almost  every  small  place 
is  the  use  of  four  ugly  turned  posts  for  the  clothes-line.  These  can  be  avoided  by  using 
saplings  of  about  eight  inches  in  diameter,  cut  to  a  proper  length,  and  the  branches  short- 
ened to  about  five  or  six  feet.  These  can  be  covered  with  such  vines  as  trumpet  creeper, 
Chinese  wistaria,  or  Hall's  honeysuckle,  and  so  arranged  as  to  form  part  of  the  garden 
design. 

EXPLANATION    OF    PLAN 


1.  California  privet  hedge. 

2.  Border  of  hybrid  perpetual  roses  and  hardy 

herbaceous  plants. 

3.  Scarlet  maple. 

4.  Shrubbery,    with    groups    of     herbaceous 

plants   in  margins. 


White  birch. 

Single  hollyhocks. 

Rhododendrons,      with       I. ilium      aiiraluiii 

planted   among  them. 
New   French   cannas,  or   Eulalia  gracilUmo 

and  Funkia  Sicholdiana. 


PLAN    FOR    SUBl'RBAX    lUT.    conlinutul 

9.  Relinispora  pliimosa   aiirea  and  .-iiidromeda  flonhiinda. 

kctinispora  is  to  be  kept  sheared    to    not    over 
three  and  a  half  feet  high. 

10.  Japan  maples. 

11.  Magnolia   slellala. 

12.  Magnolia   conspicua. 

13.  Posts  covered  with  vines   for  clothes-line. 

14.  Pavilion. 

15.  Low  stone  wall,  partly  covered  with  vines  (trop^- 

olums). 
In  addition  to  planting  shown  in  plan,  three  pin  oaks 
are  to  be  planted   between  the  side-walk  and  curb. 


PLAN   FOR    HARDY    PLANT 
BORDERS 

The  accompanying  plan  is  designed  to  be  used  on 
both  sides  of  a  walk.  These  borders  would  be  equally 
suitable  for  placing  in  front  of  a  wall  or  hedge.  The 
walk,  instead  of  being  gravel,  might  be  one  of  grass, 
making  the  entire  space  between  the  borders  grass, 
and  this  would  be  much  more  effective. 

As  hardy  borders  are  intended  to  be  permanent, 
the  initial  preparation  of  the  soil  should  be  liberal. 
The  border  should  be  dug  out  to  the  depth  of  two 
feet,  preferably  two  and  one-half  feet,  and  filled  with 
all  good  surface  soil  mixed  with  one-fourth  its  bulk 
of  thoroughly  rotted  stable  manure.  After  planting, 
the  border  should  be  mulched  with  two  inches  of 
stable  manure  late  every  fall,  care  being  taken  that 
the  tops  of  no  evergreen  plants  are  covered,  as  it 
would  cause  them  to  rot. 

Borders  planted  as  shown  in  plan  will  give  a  suc- 
cession of  bloom  from  early  spring  until  fall,  but  the 
hardy  plants  and  bulbs  should  be  supplemented  by 
plantings  of  annuals,  such  as  Shirley  poppies,  Ptlox 
Dnimmondii,  nasturtiums,  sweet  alyssum,  and  asters, 
and  the  narrow  strip  for  bulbs  in  front  of  the  bor- 
ders might  be  planted  entirely  with  forget-me-not, 
which  would  not  interfere  at  all  with  the  growth  or 
bloom  of  the  bulbs. 


-?.^ 


;^/| 
S 


II   1   .^^ 

I 


76 


A    PLEA    FOR    HARDY    PLANTS 


Designed   for   F.   H. 
ily    half    an    acre     in 


PLAN    FOR    SMALL    SUBURBAN    GROUNDS 

These  grounds  are,  for  the  greater  part,  practically 
level,  but  have  an  elevation  of  about  forty  feet  above 
the  street  they  front  on;  the  front  of  the  grounds 
being  a  steep  embankment  covered  with  a  natural 
growth  of  trees  and  shrubs.  The  road  shown  at  the 
side  of  the  grounds  is  a  right  of  way  which  gives  en- 
trance to  three  or  four  contiguous   places. 

Privacy  is  secured  for  the  front  lawn  by  the  topog- 
raphy of  the  ground,  by  the  mass  of  shrubs  and  by 
hedges.  This  lawn  is  two  feet  higher  than  the  level 
of  the  carriage  road,  and  entrance  is  gained  to  it  by 
steps  through  the  hedge,  which  extends  from  side  of 
house  to  boundary  of  grounds. 
Russell,  Esq.,  Edgeworth,  Pa. 

These  grounds,  although  c 
extent,  have  proven  most  suceessful,  due  as  much  to 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  owner  as  to  a  good  plan  faith- 
fully carried  out.  Many  large  places  are  less  effective 
and  comprehensive.  A  very  successful  flower  and 
vegetable  garden  is  a  feature,  and  some  fruit  is  grown. 
The  shrubberies  contain  a  good  assortment  of  varie- 
ties, and  the  little  lawn  is  quite  perfect.  The  natural 
topography  of  the  grounds,  which  has  been  undis- 
turbed,  adds  greatly  to  their  beauty. 

EXPLANATION    OF    PLAN 

1,  I,  I,  I.   Massed  planting  of  shrubs. 

2,  2.  Hardy  perennial  plants. 

3,  Arundo  Tionax  and  Eulalia  gracillima. 
\.   Vines  and   shrubs  to  cover  steep  bank. 

5.  Natural  growth  on  steep  embankment. 

6,  6.  California  privet  hedge. 

7.  California  privet  hedge. 

8,  g,  10,  II,  12,  15.     Fruit  trees. 
13,  13.   Grapes  on  trellis. 
17,  18,  19,  20,  21.   Posts  for  clothes-line. 

22.  Tulip  tree. 

23.  Pin  oak. 

24.  Purple  beech. 

25.  English  beech. 

26.  Scarlet  oak. 

27.  Magnolia  Soulangeana. 
2S.  Japanese  snowball. 


a.  C.  State  CoUese 


